KATHMANDU: Rope-fixing teams on Mount Everest have crossed the Balcony at 8,400 metres and are working through the night toward the summit, with the Expedition Operators' Association Nepal (EOAN) targeting a completed route by the morning of May 13.

EOAN Secretary General Rishiram Bhandari, in a letter addressed to the Department of Tourism on Tuesday, said the fixing team had extended lines from South Col (7,950m) to the Balcony by 4:00am, with night operations continuing to cover the final stretch. An estimated 800 to 1,000 metres of rope is still required to reach the summit from the Balcony, covering roughly 450 metres of vertical gain.

"Despite extremely adverse weather conditions, we have been able to make progress toward completing the rope-fixing on time," Bhandari said, acknowledging special contributions from member agencies Imagine Nepal Treks, Elite Exped, and Seven Summit Treks.

Climbers are currently resting at Camp IV ahead of a potential summit push. Bhandari said the route is expected to be complete between 11:00am and 2:00pm on May 13, allowing summit teams to depart shortly after.

Following the completion of Everest rope-fixing, operations are set to continue toward Lhotse, with climbers scheduled to rest one day at Camp II before the team resumes fixing on the neighbouring peak.