Mountaineering season in full swing in Nepal

Pakistan's world record holder Shehroze Kashif is climbing three mountains in Nepal this spring. Kasif, the world's youngest climber, climbed Mt Everest at the age of 19. He has also climbed the Broad Peak, the third largest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga, the fourth largest mountain, Lhotse, and the fifth largest mountain, Mount Makalu. For this, they have already come to Nepal.

Silvio Mondinelli, the 6th climber to ascend fourteen eight thousander without supplemental oxygen in the world from Italy, will also be welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu. Similarly, Sabita Kasanwal, an Indian climber who came to climb Mt. Everest, was also welcomed.

With numbers of climbers coming to Nepal from different countries, the Department of Tourism of the Government of Nepal at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu is very busy. The department is working to issue permits to various parties every day for climbing various mountains in Nepal. According to the department, 41 climbing teams from different countries have received permission till now. There are 341 climbers including 261 males and 81 females among the climbers who have gotten the permission. The government has collected 1.486 million US dollars in revenue by issuing permits.

On the other hand, four climbing teams have gotten permission to ascend Amadablam Lhotse Himal. Similarly, three teams have been allowed to climb Mt Annapurna, Amadablum and Nupse Himal. Two teams have gotten permission to climb are Himlung, Dhaulagiri, Thapa Peak Dhampus and Kanchenjunga. Similarly, Gangapurna Himal, Bhimdangri, Mukot, Makalu and Manaslu Himal are among the mountains permitted to one expedition team.

Climbing low-altitude mountains is considered a prelude to high-altitude mountaineering, such as Mount Everest. The Himalayan Rescue Association of Nepal (HRA) has made special arrangements to provide safety and health care to the climbers coming to Nepal in the spring season, said Hari Dharel, president of the association.

HRA is a voluntary nonprofit organization established in 1973 with the objective to reduce the casualties in the Nepal Himalaya, especially keeping in view the increasing number of Nepalese and foreign trekkers into the remote wilderness. The association has been providing medical services with the help of volunteer doctors at Manang ( 3550m) on the way round Annapurna and Pheriche (4250) and route to Everest Base Camp since 2003.

The team will provide emergency services 24 hours a day. Arrangements have also been made to contact these teams for necessary counseling regarding Altitude Sickness.

Nepali tourism businessmen are confident that the activities in the mountains of Nepal this spring will