Nepal on Friday felicitated Sherpa climbers of the rope fixing team which laid ropes to the summit and clear route for the commercial climbers. The ropes will be used by others to cling during their ascent and descent of the world’s tallest peak. 

Liaison officers, on behalf of the Tourism Department, offered flower garland and khada to 11 members of the rope fixing team to recognize their contribution to the expedition, said Khimlal Gautam, member secretary of Mountaineering Monitoring and Facilitation Committee.

“Everest expedition has been safer than ever since the collaborative task of rope fixing began in 2005,” said Gautam, adding, “The team takes tremendous risk, to be the first to find a way every year and lay down rope all the way to the summit to make the route safe for all the climbers. We should be grateful to them for what they do every year.”

This is the first time that the work of the rope fixing team has been acknowledged officially. Every season, a team of climbing Sherpas known as icefall doctors, build and maintain the route through Khumbu icefall - the most treacherous section of the mountain upto Camp II. From there, the team clears the route and fixes climbing rope to the summit. Commercial expedition starts only after the rope fixing team finishes laying down ropes up to the summit. Their work is a prerequisite to making climbing Everest possible for hundreds of aspirant summitters every year. However, proper acknowledgement and recognition of their heroic deed, which they complete with such high risk, has been slow to come.  Their work is what makes Everest climb safer and attainable for all every year.  

Fifty two year old Kami Rita Sherpa, record holder with the highest number of Everest summits, had led the 10-member rope fixing team to the top. The team completed fixing ropes on Mount Everest on May 7. Kami Rita also broke his own record as he stood atop the summit 26 times while completing the last leg of rope fixing on top of Everest. 

On May 11, the same team fixed the rope to the summit of Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain. They arrived at the base camp on Thursday. 

“We are touched by the kind gesture. This acknowledgement has encouraged us to continue the task in the years to come,” team leader Kami Rita said.

As the ropes were fixed relatively early this year, there have already been successful summits in early May. There are more weather windows until the end of the month which means everybody will have a chance to attempt the summit.

The other members of the team are Sona Sherpa, Ngima Tashi Sherpa, Phurba Tsering Sherpa, Tenjing Gyaljen Sherpa, Lakpa Tenji Sherpa, Phurba Kusang Sherpa, Mingma Dandhu Sherpa, Pastenji Sherpa, Tareman Tamang and Phurba Chhotar. 

Sona Sherpa is known for his daredevil task of fixing rope to the K2 summit during the first winter ascent last year.  

Lt Colonel Kishor Adhikari and Tourism Police DSP Tarka Raj Pandey participated as a guest in the felicitation program. Adhikari is leading the Nepal Army team of Everest Clean Up Campaign. His team summited Everest on Thursday.

The government has issued 317 climbing permits for Everest and 127 permits for Lhotse this year. According to Gautam, there are nine liaison officers at the base camp at the moment. The government had assigned a total of 57 liaison officers for Everest and Lhotse.