KATHMANDU: High-level officials including Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mukunda Prasad Niraula today honoured the Sherpa climbers who successfully fixed ropes to the summits of Mount Everest and Lhotse during this year's spring climbing season.

The Expedition Operators Association Nepal (EOAN) organized the felicitation ceremony in Kathmandu to recognize their critical role in establishing safe summit routes, allowing over 1,000 climbers from around the world to successfully scale the mountains.

Under EOAN's coordination, a joint team of climbers from expedition agencies was responsible for fixing the route from Camp II to the summits of both Everest and Lhotse.

Mingma Dorchi Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Mingma Tenje Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Pam Dorjee Sherpa (Solukhumbu), Pasang Tenjing Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Lopsang Bhote (Taplejung), Chhomba Tenji Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Mingma Nurbu Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Pasang Tashi Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Phurtenji Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Guru Bhote (Sankhuwasabha), Mingtemba Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Pasang Nurbu Sherpa (Sankhuwasabha), Dendi Sherpa (Dolakha) and Pasang Ngima Sherpa (Happy) were assigned to fix the summit route on Mt Everest this season. The team opened a summit route to the world’s highest mountain on May 13.

Similarly, Mingma Dorchi Sherpa, Mingma Tenje Sherpa, Pam Dorjee Sherpa, Pasang Tenjing Sherpa and Lopsang Bhote established a summit route on Mt Lhotse on May 17.

"We are really excited to receive this honour, as rope-fixing climbers left no stone unturned to get their job done this season," Mingma Tenje Sherpa, leader of the rope-fixing team, said. "Despite many challenges, our team fixed double-line ropes, completing its task on time."

Speaking on the occasion, ministry secretary Niraula praised the Sherpa climbers for enabling global mountaineering expeditions, stating: "The government is committed to collaborating with EOAN and stakeholders to promote mountaineering tourism globally." The new tourism act would mandate additional rights for EOAN on rope fixing, he added.

EOAN President Damber Parajuli emphasized the need for standardized rope-fixing procedures across all mountains and urged the government to establish a dedicated garbage management fund for high-altitude clean-up efforts. Parajuli also asked for necessary consultations with stakeholders on the new tourism act, which is being deliberated at the House of Representatives.

"The government must prioritize and protect Nepal's mountaineering sector," said EOAN General Secretary Rishi Ram Bhandari. Bhandari also called on the government to set up a climbers' welfare fund at the earliest. The Department of Tourism has entrusted EOAN with fixing ropes from Camp II to the summits of Mt Everest and Mt Lhotse, as well as from base camp to the summits of Mt Manaslu, Himlung Himal and Ama Dablam.

The program was attended by climbers, expedition operators, officials from the ministry, tourism organizations and other dignitaries.