The summit of Mount Everest is officially ready for climbs by guided commercial expedition groups this season. A group of Nepalese Sherpas attached ropes to the top of the highest mountain in the world on Friday evening, a spokesman for the Nepalese tourism authority told the German Press Agency.
These enable a majority of foreign mountaineers to make it to the top over difficult places.
During the current peak Everest season, adventurers are already on the mountain and acclimatizing. This means they slowly get used to the lower oxygen levels at high altitudes by, among other things, spending time at different altitudes. But only one team successfully made it to the top this spring – namely the ten-person Sherpa team that attached the ropes. Now commercial groups can also try to reach the top – as soon as there are suitable weather windows.
Rise from Nepal or China
Most people attempt to climb Mount Everest in spring because that is when the conditions are usually best. The mountain is located on the Nepal-China border in the Himalayas and can be climbed from both sides. And anyone who wants to do this must apply for a fee-based permit in each country. In Nepal this costs $11,000 – more in China, where climbs are rarer. In Nepal, the responsible tourism authority issued permits to a total of 414 people – including 75 women.
In total, an Everest adventure usually costs at least 40,000 euros per person – and often even twice as much. In addition to the official fee, this includes a local team of helpers who guide the foreign mountaineers, carry luggage and cook, as well as costs for accommodation, flights and equipment including oxygen cylinders.
