With a sea of colorful tents and a steady flow of climbers, Everest Base Camp has come to life this spring. The once-quiet glacier field is now bustling with excitement as mountaineers from across the globe prepare for their ascent of the world’s highest peak.

A few days ago, renowned mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa posted a video on social media, calling the camp "Mountain Home." The video shows neat rows of colorful tents, giving the impression of a vibrant village at 5,364 meters above sea level.

"The base camp feels like a small world, where people from across the globe have come together," said mountaineer Lakpa Sherpa, currently at the base camp. "There’s a joyful atmosphere all around." Kami Rita, who holds the record for the most ascents of Everest, has returned for his 31st climb, once again with the aim of breaking his own world record. The base camp, adorned with bright tents and shelters, looks festive and lively.

Facilities like laundry services, cafes, and bars have been set up to cater to the climbers. Over 500 tents have been pitched, housing more than 1,300 people, including climbers, guides, cooks, and helpers. Lakpa Sherpa, Managing Director of ATK Expedition Company, said the base camp looks "fun and colorful" with the various tents set up by expedition companies.

Mingma Sherpa, Chairman of Seven Summit Treks Pvt. Ltd., noted that the influx of climbers has created a unique atmosphere in the Everest region. “The crowds from different countries gathering to climb Everest have captured global attention,” he said.

Recent images of snow-capped Mount Everest have gone viral on social media, further promoting Nepal’s adventure tourism.

A steady stream of mountaineers, trekkers, and porters can be seen traveling from Lukla to the base camp. Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, General Secretary of the Everest Climbing Association, described the atmosphere at the camp as vibrant and said the busy season would help promote Nepal’s adventure tourism.

ATK Expedition Company has been assigned the responsibility of fixing ropes to the Everest summit. Managing Director Sherpa reported that about 90 percent of climbers have already arrived at the base camp.

Route to Camp III Open

The route from Everest Base Camp to Camp III has been opened for the season. Skilled Sherpa teams, tasked with fixing ropes up to the summit, had been making progress above Camp III by taking advantage of favorable weather. However, snowfall since Sunday evening has disrupted their work, and conditions turned difficult for trekkers on Monday. The teams are now awaiting improvements in the weather to resume rope-fixing efforts.

 

The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has already completed the route up to Camp II. The Department of Tourism estimates that the route to the summit will be ready within a week to 10 days, depending on the weather condition. Climbers who have received permits have been acclimatizing and practicing in the region for about a month.

Climbers are arriving in large numbers to attempt not only Everest but also other peaks. Most climbers have already secured permits, while a few are still completing the process. Spring remains the ideal season for Everest expeditions. To support the climbing season, the Department of Tourism has set up a liaison office at the base camp.

More Than 400 Permits Issued for Everest

According to the Department of Tourism, 402 climbers from 53 countries have received permits to climb Everest as of Sunday. Department Director Leeladhar Awasthi said permits have been issued to 41 climbing groups, with 74 female climbers among them. In the same season last year, 414 climbers, including 75 women and 339 men, had obtained permits.

This year, Rs 684 million has been collected in royalties from mountain climbing permits, a figure expected to rise as more climbers join the season.

The Department of Tourism has also established a field office at Everest Base Camp to ensure that climbing activities are safe, organized, and properly regulated. Over the 72 years since the first ascent of Everest, climbers have not only scaled the world’s highest peak but also set various records. Despite the risks involved, the spirit of adventure continues to draw climbers from around the world.

This season, Tashi Gyaljen Sherpa of Solukhumbu is attempting to set a new record by climbing Everest four times within 20 days. Till date, more than 8,000 climbers—both domestic and international—have reached the summit of Everest, and new records continue to be made. -- RSS