September 01, 2001
KATHMANDU: For the first in 28 years, no expedition will be attempting to climb the 8848 meters high Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, this fall from Nepal.
The Ministry of Tourism Tuesday announced permits for 22 teams from nine countries to climb 15 peaks in the Nepal Himalaya. Everest was opened for climbing in autumn in 1973 and two Japanese made the ascent that year in what many considered then was an impossible feat.
Last year 64 expeditions came climbing in Nepal in autumn, the most popular climbing season in Nepal. “We do not expect any applications for Everest this fall. But we may receive some applications for other peaks,” said Ganesh Karki, Under Secretary of the Mountaineering Section in the Ministry of Tourism.
“Expeditions are now concentrating in spring climbs,” Karki said. Summer and winter climbs are not popular in Nepal that boasts the world’s tallest peaks. Several teams are attempting Everest this fall from Tibet. Nepal and Tibet share the peak.
Five expeditions from Japan, four from Germany, three from Austria, two teams from Australia, South Korea, Great Britain and the USA and one team each from Italy and Poland will attempt to scale Nepal’s Himalayan peaks this autumn.
A Japanese team will attempt to climb the 7036 meters high Hungchi and a British expedition will try to climb the 6500 meters high Tengkangpoche this fall since they was opened to foreigners this spring.