Mount Everest Summit Route Blocked By Ice, Raising Risk Of Climber Congestion

KATHMANDU, April 24 (Bernama-dpa) -- The route to the summit of Mount Everest is blocked by a towering block of ice, Nepal's Tourism Ministry said on Friday, with the climbing season on the world's highest mountain about to get underway, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

The route from base camp to Camp 2 is blocked by a serac – a column of ice – in the Khumbu Icefall, the ministry said.

Specialists are currently searching for a safe route that is not endangered by the serac collapse in the glacier area, said ministry spokesman Himal Gautam.

Normally, the route to Camp 2 is open from mid-April, allowing climbers to acclimatise through various camps before their summit attempts.

The first successful climbs to the summit usually take place in early May.

The fact that the route has not yet been established is fuelling concerns about extreme crowds and congestion on the route.

The window of opportunity is narrow, with the Everest climbing season concentrated into a few days or weeks in May, when weather conditions are at their most stable. 

This short weather window has frequently led to congestion in the area known as the "death zone" due to its extremely low oxygen levels.

While local organisations are responsible for repairs and rope installations between base camp and Camp 2, external expedition operators have begun work on the upper sections up to the summit with the aid of helicopters to speed up the process, Gautam explained.

He said 410 climbers had received permits to climb Everest for the current spring season by Friday. Further applications are expected.

The authorities expect the total number of climbers to remain at the same level as in previous years, despite the increase in the permit fee from US$11,000 to US$15,000.

-- BERNAMA-dpa