Everest Opens: Spring Summit Awaits
One of the Sherpa rope fixers yesterday on the summit of Lhotse, with Everest in background. Photo: 8K Expeditions
Spring on the world’s highest peaks is always a flurry of activity, and this year is no exception. Under the expert guidance of IFMGA/NNMGA Mountain Guide Tsering Pemba Sherpa, the 8K Expeditions rope-fixing team has officially opened the route to Everest’s summit for Spring 2025. Alongside Pemba Sherpa were fellow fixers – Ashok Lama, Pem Nurbu Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa, Karma Gyaljen Sherpa, Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa and Pas Tenzi Sherpa – all working tirelessly to lay ropes and anchor points from Base Camp right up to Camp 4.
Just 24 hours earlier, on May 8, that very same Sherpa team topped out on Lhotse at 8,516 m, planting flags and laying lines before returning to Everest’s Base Camp to finish the job there. It’s a masterclass in high‐altitude efficiency – route opening on one 8,000 m peak, then immediately tackling its neighbor.
With the fixed ropes in place, climbers began trickling up to Camps 2-4 within hours. Among the early birds was Mitch Hutchcraft , who’s in the midst of an eight-month “sea-to-summit” challenge, guided by Gelje Sherpa. Most teams are now scouting summit windows around May 12, using these first few days to shuttle gear, lock in acclimatization rotations and fine-tune their summit bids.
Permit tallies tell the wider story of Everest’s enduring pull. Nepal’s Department of Tourism has issued 456 foreign permits so far, and when you add Sherpa support staff, total climbers on the mountain this spring could near 900. Big operators like Seven Summit Treks and 14 Peaks Expedition alone are managing over 100 clients, underscoring the scale and organization behind these modern expeditions.
On May 6, rope-fixing Sherpas led by Makalu Lakpa Sherpa reached about 8,050 m on Dhaulagiri – just 100 m below the 8,167 m summit – before returning to Base Camp to rest and prepare. All teams, outfitted by Seven Summit Treks and 14 Peaks Expedition, plan to depart Camp 3 within the next 24–48 hours for their summit bid. With ropes in place almost to the top and light winds forecast, climbers will likely stand on Dhaulagiri’s summit this weekend – provided weather holds. Time your final push to avoid the afternoon snow softening on the descent, and stay tuned for on-the-ground updates as the season reaches its peak!
From Everest’s newly blazed route to Lhotse’s sunlit ridges and Dhaulagiri’s looming snow slopes, Spring 2025 promises all the drama, camaraderie and challenge we love. Stay tuned for summit-day updates, photo dispatches and first-hand stories straight from the high camps!
Share this post:
Comments