Higher number of Everest expeditions expected
KATHMANDU, MAR 24 -
The Everest Spring Expedition 2012 is here, and so are hordes of mountaineers aspiring to step on top of the Himalayan peaks.
A total of 12 expeditions have applied to climb the world’s highest peak as of March 22, according to the Tourism Industry Division at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA). The 12 teams consist of 126 members. Last year, there were 26 expeditions consisting of 251 climbers.
The actual climbing will start from mid-April, and the mountaineers will spend time on the lower reaches of the Himalaya to acclimatize themselves. However, if there is good weather, mountaineers could mount their assaults early, an official at the division said.
With the increased tourist arrivals since the beginning of 2012, government officials are expecting a higher number of Everest climbers this year. “Looking the current application trend for Everest, we expect a significant rise in the number this year,” said Kamal Shrestha, an official at the division. According to Shrestha, the division will start processing the applications and issuing permits shortly.
Mountaineering is considered to be high-value tourism, and the government annually collects more than Rs 200 million as royalty from Everest expeditions alone.
According to the division, it has received the highest number of applications to climb Everest from India followed by the US, the UK and Australia.
Three Indian groups — Indian Army Women Everest Expedition, Indian Civilian Expedition and Indian Expedition — will be taking a shot at the tallest mountain on earth. The Indian Army consists of 15 members (including seven women) while the Indian Civilian Expedition and the Indian Expedition consist 15 and seven members respectively, according to the division.
Meanwhile, according to National Geographic, North Face athlete Conrad Anker and National Geographic photographer Cory Richards will revisit Everest in an attempt to repeat the historic climb of the 1963 National Geographic-sponsored American Mount Everest Expedition almost 50 years after the first American ascent to the summit.
“Their alpine-style climb will be documented by Richards for a feature in National Geographic magazine to be published in early 2013 and covered in real time on the magazine’s May issue iPad app starting April 16,” a National Geographic report said.
At the same time, a second team composed of scientists and researchers from Montana State University and National Geographic writer Mark Jenkins will attempt to climb the peak.
The royalty for the spring season is higher. The royalty for Everest ranges from US$ 15,000 to US$ 70,000 per expedition depending on the number of members (maximum seven) and the route. For an expedition that may have a maximum of 15 members, a fee of US$ 10,000 per person is charged.
According to official statistics, over 3,000 climbers have scaled Everest since it was first climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Sherpa in 1953.
Source: Kantipur
