Rope-fixing works completed till Camp IV of Everest, Lhotse

KATHMANDU: The rope-fixing team has opened the route and fixed ropes up to Camp IV (7,950m) of Mt Everest (8,848.86m) and Lhotse (8,516m).

Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expeditions, which has been hired by the Expedition Operators of Nepal (EOAN) to open routes and fix ropes to the summits of Everest and Lhotse, said in a social media post that the route to Camp IV was opened on Monday evening. “The team is now preparing for the final push to establish fixed lines to the summits of the two peaks in the coming days,” Sherpa added.

Hundreds of climbers have been acclimatizing themselves at Everest Base Camp over the past two months in preparation for their summit attempts. Once the rope is fixed to the summit, climbers will begin their summit bids.

The Department of Tourism has issued climbing permits to 427 climbers, including 74 women, from 43 teams to climb Mt Everest this season. Similarly, 107 climbers have been permitted to ascend Mt Lhotse this spring.

In total, the department has issued permits to 1,025 mountaineers to climb 26 mountain peaks this season.

The government has collected Rs 725.18 million in revenue from climbing expeditions.