KATHMANDU, May 13: Climbing activities on Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks during the spring season have been disrupted due to adverse weather conditions. According to the Department of Tourism, high-velocity winds on Everest hindered ascents on Monday, including on Mount Kanchenjunga.
Director of the Tourism Department, Himal Gautam, said, “We received reports that climbers could not summit Everest today due to strong winds.”
Many climbers who were preparing for the summit are now retreating to safer locations. Those with sufficient oxygen supplies are currently waiting at Camp II and III for favorable weather conditions.
Pasang Bhote, a representative of the Department of Tourism’s temporary field office at Everest Base Camp, confirmed that poor weather conditions have affected the climb. As a result, the summit plan scheduled for May 15 has been canceled, and it's likely that the May 14 plan will also be called off. Climbers who aimed to reach the summit on those dates are now descending to base camp, Bhote said.
Adverse climate affects expedition to Mount Everest
“Due to the weather, summit attempts couldn’t take place today. Climbers who reached Camp IV will likely return to base camp today and tomorrow (Tuesday),” he added.
Due to unfavorable weather, Everest ascents are expected to be halted for the next three to four days. If weather conditions improve, summit attempts may resume from May 18 onward, according to the department.
The expedition company 8K Expeditions, which is managing Everest expeditions this season, had predicted that the largest number of climbers would reach the summit between May 11 and 14. The summit window was expected from May 12 to 15, with snowfall forecast for May 16 and 17. However, due to the unexpected weather deterioration five days before the projected date, ascents have been obstructed.
So far, only four groups, including those responsible for rope fixing, have successfully reached the Everest summit, according to the department’s field office.
Kanchenjunga has also been affected by the same adverse weather conditions.
On May 10, climbers Dawa Funjo Sherpa and Phur Sang Sherpa summited Everest. On May 11, British climber Mitchell Leonard Dacre reached the summit. Nepalese climbers Gyalje Sherpa, Phuri Sherpa, and Ang Pemba Sherpa also summited Everest the same day, along with Ecuadorian climber Patricio Arevalo. On the same date, Dawa Funjo Sherpa also summited Mount Lhotse.
Currently, climbers are stationed near Camps II and III on Everest, awaiting a break in the weather. Additionally, the department’s field office reported that five Nepalis, three Chinese, and one Kyrgyzstani climber have successfully summited Mount Makalu this season.
Spring ascents on Everest officially began on May 8. On Friday evening at 5 pm, a team of seven Sherpas from 8K Expeditions fixed ropes to the summit of Everest, officially opening the route for other climbers.
This spring season, a total of 1,127 climbers — 240 women and 887 men — from 119 groups have received climbing permits for 26 Himalayan peaks, including Everest. The highest number of climbers — 456 (84 women and 372 men) from 45 groups — have permits specifically for Everest.