Lhotse records season’s first summit as Sherpa climbers secure rope to the peak
Rope-fixing team from 8K Expeditions ensures safe ascent route on Mount Lhotse; Everest route preparations underway.
8K Expedition
A team of Sherpa climbers from 8K Expeditions reached the summit of Mount Lhotse on Thursday afternoon, successfully securing the season’s first ascent, confirmed expedition organizers.
"A five-member rope-fixing team reached the summit at 5:40 pm today, officially opening a summit route to the top of the mountain," said Pemba Sherpa, Executive Director of 8K Expeditions.
The rope-fixing team had earlier laid ropes up to Camp IV on Monday, a crucial step in preparing routes for Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse. The team is now also working on establishing a climbing route to the summit of Everest. "We cannot say for certain when it will be completed," Pemba Sherpa told Everest Chronicle from the base camp.
According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 107 climbers have secured permits to scale Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest mountain, while 456 climbers have obtained permits for Mount Everest this season.
The Lhotse summit team included Pasang Tenje Sherpa, Migma Dorjee Sherpa, Ming Dawa Sherpa, and Pas Rinzi Sherpa. Following their successful ascent, dozens of climbing groups have already departed from the base camp for higher camps as of Tuesday, closely following the rope-fixing team, base camp officials reported.
The early establishment of the summit route is expected to reduce risks and prevent crowding on the mountain. Adverse weather conditions had earlier delayed the rope-fixing task.
The complete rope-fixing team, responsible for securing routes on both Lhotse and Everest, consists of Ashok Lama, Karma Gyaljen Sherpa, Pem Nurbu Sherpa, Ming Dawa Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa, Pasang Rinjee Sherpa, Pashtanjen Sherpa, and Tashi Nurbu Sherpa.
