Himal Press 
File photo of Mt Manaslu (Photo: Makalu Adventure)
KATHMANDU: Major expedition operators have canceled their Mount Manaslu expeditions for 2026, citing persistent snowfall, unstable snow conditions and a high risk of avalanches, bringing an abrupt end to an autumn climbing season that had begun with record interest in the world’s eighth-highest mountain.
A nine-member rope-fixing team reached the 8,163-meter summit of Mount Manaslu at 9:25 p.m. local time on September 17, successfully opening the route for the autumn climbing season. However, bad weather prevented climbers from making progress beyond Camp III this season.
Manaslu, which is located in Gorkha district in north-western Nepal, had attracted unprecedented interest this season, with a record 480 climbing permits issued for the peak. The mountain has seen increasing climbing activity in recent years, with more mountaineers choosing it as their first 8,000-meter expedition.
However, deteriorating weather conditions have now forced major operators to abandon their expeditions.
Elite Expeditions officially canceled its Manaslu 2026 expedition after monitoring weather and mountain conditions for several days and waiting in the hope that conditions would improve.
“Significant snowfall has created extremely challenging conditions for us to move higher on the mountain,” the company said in a statement. “The snowfall made it difficult to consider fixing new ropes and increased the risk of avalanches.”
Similarly, Mingma G of Imagine Nepal said their clients and the support team have already descended to the safer valley. “The upper slopes were overloaded with unstable snow slabs, creating extreme avalanche danger. Persistent snowfall created dangerous conditions, with risk of avalanches near base camp too. Forecasts warned of more heavy snow,” he wrote in a social media post.
Seven Summits Treks has also announced the closure of its Manaslu 2026 season. It said the decision was taken for the safety of everyone on the mountain. “When it comes to the technical challenges of an expedition, we prepare, adapt, and find a way to tackle them. But there is one thing we can never overcome—snowfall, wind, and mountain conditions are beyond our control,” the company said in a social media post.
Manalsu has claimed four lives this season. Indian-German climber Dhruvajyoti Guha and his climbing guide Phursemba Sherpa died Saturday night after an avalanche struck their tent. Singaporean climber Lau Wee Seng, 50, died last Thursday while descending from Camp II during an acclimatization rotation. Tashi Sherpa, 20, a support staff member, was also found dead inside a tent at the base camp.
Manaslu has emerged as one of Nepal’s most popular autumn climbing destinations in recent years. Its relatively accessible route compared with some other 8,000-meter peaks has contributed to its growing popularity among climbers attempting their first summit above 8,000 meters.
