KATHMANDU, APRIL 17
As the world mountaineers head to the Mt Everest region for acclimatisation, the icefall doctors today opened a climbing route from the Base Camp to Camp I by placing ropes and ladders on the treacherous section of the Khumbu icefall.
Lama Kazi Sherpa, the chairman of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), confirmed that a team of eight icefall doctors opened the climbing route.
The SPCC has been assigned to handle icefall doctors and garbage in the Everest region by the government.
According to him, the team of icefall doctors includes Ang Sarki Sherpa, Dawa Nuru Sherpa, Pemba Tshering Sherpa, Ngima Tenzi Sherpa, Nawang Chhimi Sherpa, Dawa Chhiri Sherpa, Dawa Zangbu Sherpa, and Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa.
According to Tshering Sherpa, chief executive officer at SPCC, icefall doctors are expected to reach above western cwm by this evening.
“We have received the information from radio communication that icefall doctors finally reached above Camp I struggling hard to place ladders and ropes along the icefall section,” Sherpa said, adding that it took 10 more days than expected for them to fix route as they spotted five dangerous spots in the section.
Icefall doctors tried three different routes to complete the mission, according to Sherpa. “The route they fixed is still considered a bit risky but icefall doctors will closely and continuously monitor the fragile sections,” Sherpa informed.
The team of trained icefall doctors has only been assigned to fix a route up to Camp II and Seven Summit Treks will fix a route above Camp II to summit point.
Expedition Operators Association Nepal has assigned SST to flux summits routes on Mt Everest Na Mt Lhotse this season, according to SST chairman Mingma Sherpa.
EOAN’s General Secretary Rishi Ram Bhandari informed that most of the expedition operating agencies had already sent their support staff to the base camp to place tents and manage the logistics for the world climbers.
Till date, the Department of Tourism has issued 274 climbing permits for Everest, 40 for Lhotse and 12 for Nuptse.
The Government of Nepal collects USD 11,000 as royalty from each foreign climber to issue a climbing permit for Mt Everest.