Sherpas cross icefall, open route to Camp I on Everest - hiking officials

A group of ​Sherpa climbers have opened the ​route to a camp ‌on Mount ​Everest past chunks of ice and a giant serac that had delayed the opening of the route ‌to the world's tallest peak by two weeks, hiking officials said on Tuesday.

The annual climbing season for the 8,849-m (29,032-ft) peak runs from April to May, months ‌which offer the best weather conditions in which to reach the windswept ‌summit. But a massive 100-ft (30-m) serac, or column of ice, had blocked the path above base camp this month. Parts of it have now melted and broken away, allowing Sherpa climbers, ⁠called ​the icefall doctors, to ⁠fix ropes, place ladders and carve a safe route through the treacherous Khumbu icefall to ⁠Camp I located at 6,060 metres (19,880 ft).

Lhakpa Sherpa of the 8K Expedition hiking company, ​who is coordinating the opening of the route, said 19 Sherpa ⁠climbers had crossed the difficult portion of the icefall and reached the site of Camp I. "They ⁠are ​expected to fix ropes to Camp II, which is not difficult," Sherpa told Reuters from the base camp.

Dambar Parajuli, president of the Expedition Operators Association ⁠of Nepal, confirmed that the route had been opened without giving details. Hundreds of ⁠mountaineers from ⁠different countries are stranded at the Himalayan base camp for Mount Everest for more than two weeks ahead of making ‌summit attempts ‌next month.

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