High winds stall Everest summit push
Climbers wait at base camp as extreme winds halt progress, delaying the prime window for successful ascents.
Abiral Rai
High winds have forced the majority of climbers aiming to summit Mount Everest this season to remain at base camp, with expedition organizers reporting that the main summit push has been delayed.
"Most of the people are waiting for the summit window. Weather reports have shown high winds until May 14 or 15," said Mingma David Sherpa of Elite Exped, a leading expedition operator in Nepal, from base camp.
According to the Department of Tourism, only 16 climbers and their Sherpa guides have reached the summit so far this season, following the installation of fixed ropes on May 9. The remaining climbers are waiting for a longer window of favorable weather, typically expected in mid-May and usually lasting only a few days.
Himal Gautam, Director at the Department of Tourism, confirmed that some climbers attempting the summit were forced to turn back due to strong winds. "Field officers at base camp informed us that climbers who were on a summit push were forced to retreat due to high winds. The expedition will continue as the wind subsides," he said.
This spring, Nepal issued climbing permits to 456 foreign nationals for Mount Everest, up from 421 last year, according to official data. The largest contingents are from the United States and India, each with 83 climbers, followed by China with 64 and the United Kingdom with 29. Of the total climbers, 372 are men and 84 are women, spread across 45 teams.
Officials attribute the rise in climbers to an anticipated increase in permit fees—from $11,000 to $15,000—scheduled for September. The government is also considering introducing a new regulation that would require climbers to have previously summited a 7,000-meter peak before attempting Everest.
Mount Everest, standing at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet), is the world’s tallest mountain. The climbing season typically peaks in May, when weather conditions are most favorable.
