Khumbu Icefall Route Opened as Over 200 Climbers Prepare for Everest Ascent

Preparations for the spring mountaineering season are in full swing, with the Khumbu Icefall route now ready for climbers aiming to summit Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha), the world’s highest peak.

According to the Department of Tourism, 214 climbers—comprising 178 men and 38 women—from 22 different expedition teams have received permits to climb Everest this season. Permits began being issued at the end of March, with climbers from 31 countries, including Nepal, now heading toward Everest Base Camp.

Aarati Neupane, Director at the Department, confirmed that the route through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall has been fully prepared by a specialized team known as the “icefall doctors,” who have completed rope fixing and route setting.

So far this season, the Department has granted expedition permits for 17 peaks, including Everest. A total of 497 climbers—99 women and 398 men—from 54 expeditions have received approval to scale various mountains across the country.

The government has collected over Rs 365.8 million in mountaineering royalties, with Mt. Everest alone accounting for Rs 316.98 million of that total.

As the route opens and teams begin their ascent, the spring season is shaping up to be another active chapter in Nepal’s storied mountaineering history.