Mount Pathibhara sees historic first ascent
Chilean climber Hernon David Leal Barrientos and team of Sherpa climbers conquer 6,668m peak in Nepal’s Kanchenjunga region as government initiative opens unclimbed summits to global mountaineers.
PC: Xtreme Climbers Treks & Expeditions
Mount Pathibhara Southeast (6,668 metres) in Nepal’s Kanchenjunga–Taplejung region has recorded its first-ever ascent amid growing interest among climbers to summit previously unclimbed Himalayan peaks.
The ascent was achieved on October 14, 2025, by a five-member expedition led by Chilean climber Hernán David Leal Barrientos. The summit team included Lakpa Chhiri Sherpa, lead climbing Sherpa and team leader, Pema Tasi Tamang, and two additional climbing Sherpas.
The South-East route featuring ice, rock, and steep snow is considered a highly technical side to climb. The peak was officially opened for climbing by the Government of Nepal in 2025, as part of a broader initiative by the Department of Tourism to open previously restricted mountains, including those limited for religious reasons or due to lack of local cooperation, to attract more climbers to remote regions.
Mountains in the Kanchenjunga region, including Pathibhara, are considered sacred by the local communities. The government of Sikkim has banned summiting Kanchenjunga from the Indian side. In Nepal, the local Yakthung (Limbu) community also worships Pathibhara, Kumbhakarna (also known as Phaktalung), and other nearby peaks.
In a similar move to attract more climbers to the western region of the country, Nepal has opened 97 Himalayan peaks in Karnali and Sudurpaschim with free climbing permits for the next two years.
According to the Department of Tourism, as of October 17, 2025, a total of 1,323 climbers from 79 countries had received permits to scale various peaks this autumn. The number is slightly lower than the 1,380 climbers recorded in the same period last year, reflecting steady interest despite Gen Z protests, unpredictable weather, and global economic upheaval.
The permits were distributed among 157 climbing teams, including 308 women and 1,015 men. The United States, China, Germany, and the United Kingdom account for the largest share of climbers.
The department collected more than USD 171,036 (24.7 million Nepalese rupees) in royalties. Peaks such as Manaslu (8,163m), Himlung Himal (7,126m), and Khang (6,816m) were among the most popular destinations this season.
