KATHMANDU: American climber Kristin Bennett along with Aang Phurba Sherpa from the Himalayan Guides/Madison Mountaineering successfully scaled Mt Ama Dablam after three-member rope fixing team successfully reached the summit point becoming the first team of the season to stand atop the 6,812 metre-peak in Khumbu region of eastern Nepal, according to the expedition organiser.

Iswari Paudel, Managing Director at Himalayan Guides Nepal Pvt Ltd, said that Dawa Phinjo Bhote Lama, Pemba Sherpa and Chhiring Bhote reached the summit of the mountain at 4:00 pm yesterday, fixing the ropes from Camp II.

“Kristin and Aang Phurba scaled the mountain immediately after the route was open,” he said.

Expedition Operator Association Nepal has assigned HGN to fix the ropes on Mt Ama Dablam this season.

After the Sherpas opened the route to the summit, nearly 100 climbers including high altitude workers who obtained permits from the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation could ascend to the summit of Ama Dablam now.

Foreign climbers along with their high altitude workers and support staff have already reached base camp for acclimatization. Mt Ama Dablam receives hundreds of climbers every year since American climber Barry Bishop reportedly made the first ascent to the majestic peak in 1961.