Monday, August 24, 2015

Quake-hit Nepal opens Everest for autumn season

Nepal opened Everest for the autumn season yesterday, granting its first climbing permit, 4 months after a deadly earthquake triggered an avalanche at its base camp.

Hundreds of climbers had to abandon attempts when the avalanche struck in April, marking a second summer season with virtually no one reaching the summit of the world's highest mountain.

The deaths of 16 Nepalese guides in an avalanche in 2014 sparked a shutdown that year.

Japanese climber Nobokazu Kuriki will return to the mountain this month in his fifth attempt to reach the summit.

The autumn season is considered riskier because of high winds and lower temperatures.