465 climbers get permission to scale 11 mountains this spring season

Kathmandu / April 13: A total of 465 climbers – 363 males and 102 females – have been permitted to scale 11 different mountains above 6,000 meters in Nepal this spring season.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has permitted 53 expedition teams to scale the peaks, of which 29 teams comprising 275 members will head to Mt Sagarmatha. Similarly, 55 climbers will attempt to climb Mt Lhotse (8,516 meters) while 44 climbers will attempt Mt Annapurna (8,091m). The department has permitted 30 climbers to scale Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167).

According to the DoT, the climbers have sought permission to scale mountains including Sagarmatha, Manaslu, Ama Dablam, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Lhotse, Makalu, Nuptse, Pumori, Tilicho and Tukuche.

The department has collected Rs 381,285,346 as royalty from the climbers attempting to scale the peaks. Despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in Nepal and around the world, the number of climbers aspiring to scale Mt Sagarmatha has increased this season. It is expected over 350 climbers will try to climb Sagarmatha this season.

A total of 414 peaks have been opened for mountaineering in Nepal. According to the department, 75 of them remain unclimbed.