KATHMANDU: As the spring climbing season begins, preparations are underway to ensure safe and organized ascents on Nepal’s major peaks, including Mt Everest and Mt Lhotse.

The Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN) has officially handed over the responsibility of summit route fixing on Everest and Lhotse to 8K Expeditions Pvt. Ltd., one of Nepal’s leading expedition companies.

“8K will fix ropes from Camp II to the summits of both Everest and Lhotse,” said Lakpa Sherpa, Managing Director and Expedition Leader at 8K Expeditions. The company plans to deploy trained climbers to carry out the rope-fixing work and aims to complete the task before the second week of May, depending on weather conditions.

Lakpa emphasized the critical importance of the task: “We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of hundreds of climbers by securing the route through the death zone.”

This season, 8K Expeditions is hosting over 50 foreign climbers on Everest alone.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism has assigned the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) to manage the rope fixing from the base camp to Camp II. According to Tshering Sherpa, CEO of SPCC, an eight-member team of icefall doctors has already reached base camp to begin work on the notorious icefall section.

Over 600 climbers, including 450 targeting Everest, are expected to attempt ascents on Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse this spring, according to the Department of Tourism.