KATHMANDU: A few days ago, renowned mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa shared a video on social media from Everest Base Camp, calling it his ‘Mountain Home.’
The video showcases neatly arranged, colorful tents, and the camp now resembles a lively village. Climbers from all over the world have gathered at the base camp, and the crowd has infused the area with a unique energy.
“Everest Base Camp is like a small world, with people from across the globe coming together,” said Lakpa Sherpa, a mountaineer currently at the base camp.
“It’s become like a village, and there’s a joyful atmosphere here.” Kami Rita, who holds the world record for summiting Everest 30 times, is now attempting his 31st ascent. The camp itself is adorned with vibrant tents, giving it a festive vibe.
Situated at 5,364 meters above sea level, the base camp has been equipped with ‘laundry,’ ‘café,’ ‘bar,’ and more. Over 500 tents have been set up, housing more than 1,300 climbers, helpers, cooks, and kitchen staff.
Lakpa Sherpa, Managing Director of ATK Expedition Company, noted that the colorful tents, provided by various companies for climbers’ accommodation and meals, have added to the camp’s lively atmosphere.
Mingma Sherpa, President of Seven Summit Treks Pvt. Ltd., emphasized that the influx of climbers has created a vibrant environment in the Everest region.
“The crowds gathered from different countries to climb Mount Everest are attracting global attention,” he said.
In recent days, photos of the mountains, including Everest shimmering like silver, and glimpses of Sundargaun have gone viral on social media, bringing Nepal’s adventure tourism to the world stage.
A steady stream of mountaineers, trekkers, and support staff can be seen traveling from Lukla to the Everest Base Camp. Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, General Secretary of the Everest Climbing Association, remarked that the arrival of climbers has created an energetic atmosphere at the base camp.
“The gathering of climbers this spring is fostering a new vibe, which will further boost adventure tourism in Nepal,” he said.
ATK Company has been tasked with fixing ropes up to the peak of Mount Everest. According to Sherpa, nearly 90 percent of climbers have already reached the base camp.
Road to Third Camp opened
This season, the route from Base Camp to the Third Camp has been cleared for climbers. The skilled Sherpa team, responsible for roping up to Everest’s summit, is busy constructing the path. With favorable weather, the Sherpas are working above the Third Camp.
The Everest Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has already completed the road from Base Camp to the Second Camp.
The Department of Tourism estimates that the road to the Third Camp will be fully ready within the next week to 10 days, and climbers will soon begin their ascent. Climbers who have obtained permits have been training in the Everest region for nearly a month.
Climbers are flocking to Nepal to tackle various peaks, including Everest. Many climbers have already obtained their permits, while others are in the process of doing so.
Spring is considered the prime season for Everest expeditions. The Department of Tourism has set up a liaison office at the base camp to manage climbing activities.
Over 400 climbers set to conquer Mt Everest
As of Sunday, the Department of Tourism has issued permits to 402 climbers from 53 countries, with 41 climbing groups registered.
Among them, 74 are female climbers. Last season, a total of 414 climbers, including 75 women, obtained permits for Everest.
So far, 684 million rupees have been collected as royalties from various mountain climbing activities, with the amount expected to increase as more climbers arrive.
To ensure safety and proper management, the Department of Tourism has established a field office at Everest Base Camp.
Over the past 72 years of Everest expeditions, the mountain has seen intense competition, record-breaking achievements, and rivalries. While climbing Everest remains risky, climbers continue to take on the challenge.
This season, Tasi Gyaljen Sherpa from Solukhumbu is attempting to break a record by climbing Everest four times within 20 days. Over 8,000 climbers, both domestic and foreign, have summited Everest, and new records continue to be set.
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