Ropes fixed to Everest South Col
Weather-delayed operation reaches Camp IV, paving the way for climbers’ summit attempts
A rope-fixing team has successfully laid ropes up to Camp IV on Mount Everest, rekindling hopes for timely summit bids on the world’s highest peak, officials said.
The Department of Tourism said the team fixed ropes up to the South Col by Friday evening for the spring climbing season.
Last year, a rope-fixing team reached 7,950 metres on May 5 and installed fixed lines to the summit by May 9. This year, the team reached the South Col only three days later.
Record-holding climber Migma Dorchi Sherpa led the 10-member rope-fixing team from Camp II toward the summit.
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee is responsible for opening the route through the Khumbu Icefall. This year, work was delayed by towering ice columns blocking the route below Camp I.
The route through the treacherous section was opened at the end of April with support from guides working for commercial expedition operators.
The rope-fixing team reached the South Col after days of continuous effort in extreme high-altitude conditions.
Rope-fixing operations began this week after delays in ferrying logistical supplies to Camp II. Helicopters transported gear and food for the team. Soon after, snowstorms hit the mountain for two consecutive days as the team reached Camp III.
“This is good news that the team has laid ropes up to Camp IV. The team is likely to fix the lines to the summit within a few days and, at this rate, the work should be completed on time, weather permitting,” said Himal Gautam, director at the department.
Expedition teams are now expected to begin setting up tents at Camp IV and preparing for summit pushes. Many teams have already established Camp II and are carrying out acclimatization rotations. Several climbers have also acclimatized on smaller peaks around the Everest region.
With the route open to Camp IV, load-ferry operations, oxygen-cache drops and climber rotations are expected to intensify.
The South Col milestone capped a week of sustained high-altitude work by the rope-fixing team, which pushed through the Yellow Band despite light snowfall and strong winds over the past two days.
The Department of Tourism expects the route to the summit of Everest to be opened within a week, weather permitting.
Many climbers are expected to begin moving to higher camps from Saturday. Climbers often follow closely behind the rope-fixing team to avoid congestion and attempt their summit pushes soon after the route is opened.
Nepal has issued a record 492 climbing permits for Everest this season, including 387 men and 105 women. Authorities have also issued 120 permits for Lhotse and 56 for Nuptse, which partially share the Everest climbing route.
