9 climbers reach Everest summit in season’s first climb

Kathmandu, May 13 (EFE).- A team of nine Nepali high-altitude climbing guides reached the summit of Mt Everest on Saturday afternoon, making it the first spring ascent of the world’s tallest peak this year.

The rope fixing team was led by Dawa Gyalje Sherpa and included Nima Nuru Sherpa, Lakpa Sona Sherpa, Dipen Gurung, Pasang Ngima Sherpa, Lhakpa Tenjing Sherpa, Phur Galjen Sherpa, Dawa Jangbu Sherpa and Suman Gurung.

“The team reached the summit at 1.52 pm,” Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, managing director of Imagine Nepal Trek and Expeditions, the agency responsible for preparing the route up to Everest this year, told EFE.

“Around 12 climbers – six foreigners and six Nepalis – are set to make a final push (for the summit) on Saturday midnight,” he added.

On Sunday, around 60 climbers are scheduled to attempt reaching the summit, Mingma informed

This spring, the Department of Tourism has issued Everest permits to a record 467 individuals, the highest number ever.

Last spring, the department had issued 409 permits for Everest in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, also an all-time record.

A climbing permit for Everest costs $11,000 for foreigners. But climbers end up spending between $40,000 and $90,000 to climb the mountain.

Close to 7,000 mountaineers have climbed Everest from the Nepal side since Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and New Zealander Edmund Percival Hillary first set foot atop the world’s highest peak in May 1953. EFE

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