KATHMANDU: The spring climbing season continues in the Himalayas, but adverse weather conditions have forced a temporary halt to mountaineering activities on several peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga.
Strong winds have especially impacted Everest, with climbers either retreating to safer camps or waiting for conditions to improve.
According to the Department of Tourism, strong winds have made it impossible for climbers to proceed with their ascents today. Himal Gautam, Director at the Department, confirmed that no climbs could take place on Everest due to the unfavorable weather.
Many climbers who had been positioned for summit attempts have now returned to safer camps, while others with sufficient oxygen supplies are holding out at the second and third camps in anticipation of better conditions.
Pasang Bhote, a representative from the department’s temporary field office at Everest Base Camp, reported that the scheduled climb for May 15 has been canceled, with similar disruptions expected for May 14.
Climbers who had planned to reach the summit on those dates are now descending from higher altitudes. Bhote stated that mountaineers who had reached Camp IV are expected to return to base camp today and tomorrow.
With the forecast predicting continued poor weather over the next three to four days, officials have indicated that any further summit attempts on Everest may only be possible starting from May 18, if conditions allow.
This disruption comes despite the fact that May 11 to 14 had been identified as a promising summit window, with snowfall expected on May 16 and 17.
The Everest climbing season began on May 9, and the route to the summit was officially opened by a seven-member Sherpa team from 8K Expedition Company, who reached the peak and installed the ropes at 5 pm on Friday.
Despite the challenges, a few successful summits have already been recorded. On May 10, Dawa Phunjo Sherpa and Fursang Sherpa reached the summit of Everest.
The following day, British climber Mitch Hutchcraft, along with Nepali climbers Gelje Sherpa, Furi Sherpa, and Ang Pemba Sherpa, also summited the world’s highest peak. Patricio Arevalo from Ecuador reached the top the same day. Dawa Phunjo Sherpa also summited Mount Lhotse on May 11.
Meanwhile, climbing has also been affected on Mount Kanchenjunga due to similar weather conditions. The department’s field office has reported that only four climbing groups, including rope-fixing teams, have managed to summit Everest so far this season.
In other parts of the Himalayas, five Nepali climbers, three Chinese, and one Kyrgyz mountaineer have successfully summited Mount Makalu.
This season, a total of 1,127 climbers — 240 women and 887 men — from 119 climbing teams have received permits to scale 26 different peaks across Nepal.
Mount Everest alone has drawn the highest number of aspirants, with 456 climbers — including 84 women and 372 men — from 45 different expeditions granted permission to attempt the summit.
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