KATHMANDU: The world’s eighth highest mountain Mount Manaslu is all set to draw a complete bank in the spring climbing season after a group of mountaineers today abandoned their bids citing a bad weather condition, according to the expedition organiser.

“The only expedition to Mt Manaslu this season organised by Wild Yak Expeditions has decided to abandon the expedition due to high risk of avalanche in higher camps,” Norbu Sherpa, Managing Director at Wild Yak Expeditions, shared. “The avalanche which arrived at the base camp also destroyed a couple of tents but there was no human casualty,” he told THT.

A team led by Swiss climber Steve Bernard was forced to return after a number of avalanches followed by the high wind and heavy snowfall restricted the team members from attempting to scale the 8,163-metre peak in the western Nepal, Sherpa added.

According to the Department of Tourism, the Wild Yak Expedition was the only team to attempt to climb Mt Manaslu this season. “The team has six members from Switzerland and one each from France and Austria,” a DoT official said, referring to the climbing permit issued for Mt Manaslu this season.