Nepal Issues Record 492 Mount Everest Permits as Roughly 1,000 Climbers Prepare to Summit
Nepal issued a record 492 Mount Everest permits for this spring, with roughly 1,000 climbers and guides preparing to attempt the summit despite dangerous ice conditions in the Khumbu Icefall.
On May 10, Nepal's tourism office announced that it has issued a record 492 permits to climb Mount Everest this spring climbing season. Nepal's tourism spokesperson Himal Gotam stated: "We have issued permits for Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) in the greatest numbers in history." He noted that the previous record was set in 2023 with 478 permits issued during the same period. Most climbers attempting Everest must be accompanied by at least one local Sherpa guide, meaning approximately 1,000 mountaineers will be heading to the summit in the coming weeks.
Nepal's expert mountaineering teams, known as "icefall doctors," began installing ropes and ladders on Everest in April to prepare for the spring season. However, large ice blocks above the Khumbu Icefall—the most dangerous section of Everest located between the summit and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge—have posed significant obstacles to their work, raising concerns about potential delays in the climbing season. Gotam reported that a route to South Col, or Camp 4, at 7,906 meters has been opened via an alternative route.
Climbers from China received the most permits this season with 109, followed by the United States with 76. Nepal is home to 8 of the world's 10 highest peaks, making it a major destination for international mountaineers. This climbing season generates significant revenue for Nepal, with the government collecting over $7.1 million from Everest permits, equivalent to approximately 228 million Thai baht.
