With the objective of scaling mountains in this spring season, around three dozen expedition teams have left for the destination.

Thirty-seven different national and international expedition teams have left for the Himalayas to scale various high mountains including Everest, Dhaulagiri, Lhotse, Nuptse and Makalu, reports Nepal Samacharpatra.

Narayan Prasad Acharya, officer at the mountaineering section of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, informed that of the 37 teams, 15 plan to scale Mt Everest. These teams hail from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Malaysia, Canadaand Germany.

Likewise, three teams have only Nepali mountaineers as their members. They have requested for waiver of royalty. They include; Super Sherpa Everest Campaign led by Appa Sherpa who has scaled Everest for record 16 times; Loktantrik Everest Expedition Campaign led by Ang Rita Sherpa, the veteran Everester; and NTV-Lions Everest Expedition 2007 led by Kami Sherpa.

Acharya added that few more teams could still come to seek permission to climb Everest this season. Last year, too, 17 teams had sought permission to scale Everest.