The 2025 spring expedition season for Mt Sagarmatha (Everest) officially began on Friday after a seven-member Sherpa team from 8K Expeditions successfully fixed ropes to the summit, opening the climbing route. The team, led by Ashok Lama, reached the top at 5:00 p.m. and included Chhiring Pemba Sherpa, Pem Nurbu Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa, Karma Gyaljen Sherpa, Tashi Gyaljen Sherpa, and Pastenji Sherpa.
According to Leeladhar Awasthi, Director at the Department of Tourism, the climbing season formally commenced following the completion of rope-fixing work. Favorable weather is expected to support a wave of summit attempts in the coming days.
A day earlier, five Sherpas from the same company had fixed ropes to the summits of Mt Lhotse and Mt Ama Dablam, paving the way for a busy mountaineering season.
Mountaineer Lakpa Sherpa, who is also the Managing Director of 8K Expeditions, said that the highest number of summit attempts is expected between May 11 and 14, when the weather is most favorable.
Several record-setting climbers are aiming to make history this season. World record holder Kami Rita Sherpa is poised to break his own record with a 31st ascent of Everest. Meanwhile, Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa aims to set a new milestone by climbing Everest four times in just 20 days. Similarly, Sanu Sherpa plans to scale mountains above 8,000 meters for the third time, extending his existing world record.
So far, 421 climbers from 44 mountaineering groups have received permits from the Department of Tourism to attempt the Everest summit. Each team is granted a 75-day climbing permit, with the Everest climb typically lasting around 40 days. -- RSS
