The rope-fixing team is set to resume their mission to secure the climbing route along the south side of Mount Everest (8,848.86m) this week, with the immediate goal of reaching Camp IV.

Currently, the 12-member team of experienced Sherpa climbers is resting at Camp II to recover from the grueling task of laying ropes beyond Camp III on Everest. "Snow and high winds halted the team today, but they will resume as soon as the weather improves," said Pemba Sherpa, Executive Director of 8K Expeditions, the company responsible for rope-fixing operations this spring.

The team has already fixed ropes up to 7,400 meters, beyond Camp III. Once reinvigorated, they plan to continue laying ropes along the route toward the summit.

According to Pemba, the team aims to complete the rope-fixing all the way to the summit by the first week of May. "If the weather conditions improve, the team is expected to meet their target as scheduled" Pemba added.

The critical Khumbu Icefall route was successfully opened by April 10th. The team spent a month navigating the treacherous 2,200-meter-long stretch through unstable ice towers and deep crevasses.

The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) is responsible for maintaining the icefall routes to be used by climbers attempting Mount Everest (8,848.86m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Nuptse (7,861m).

The Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN) officially handed over rope-fixing responsibilities above Camp II to 8K Expeditions earlier this month.

With the Khumbu Icefall now stabilized and weather conditions gradually improving, all eyes are on the rope-fixing team as they push upward toward Camp IV and, ultimately, the summit of the world’s highest mountain.

Weather disrupts Kanchenjunga rope-fixing team

In a similar story, snow and high winds have also delayed the rope-fixing team on Kanchenjunga, preventing them from moving beyond Camp III. According to Mingma David Sherpa, Director of Elite Exped, the team attempted to progress past Camp III but was forced to stop due to adverse weather conditions.

Renowned mountaineer Nimsdai Purja is leading the team on the world’s third-highest mountain. Kanchenjunga will be his first 8,000-meter peak of the season and marks the beginning of his audacious challenge: summiting all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters thrice.

Nimsdai has successfully summited all 14 peaks twice. He completed the 14-peak challenge in just six months and six days in 2019. Last year, he set a record as the fastest climber to scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen, accomplishing the feat in just two and a half years.