Everest 2008: Nepal Lifts South Everest Ban–Climbers Free To Head Up

After lastnight’s successful Chinese summits on the north of Mt. Everest, Nepal has immediately lifted the ban on climbers pursuing the summit from the south.  Climbers are free to go up!

From BBC News:

Mountaineers are allowed to move towards the summit from today [Thursday],” Nepal’s tourism ministry spokesman Prem Rai told the BBC.

“There are 29 groups of climbers and each group has nine members and some of them have already set off.”

The lifting of the south side restrictions, set up to ensure no protests would take place during China’s Olympic Torch run up the north, will be a big relief for many of the teams at Everest’s south base camp who have been waiting somewhat patiently for May 10th.  That was the original date China had set to summit.  Luckily a weather window opened up a bit over the past couple of days that allowed China to make a sucessful summit at 9:18 pm lastnight. 

Nepal was pretty quick in lifting the climber restrictions.  A large portion of the Sherpa population rely on the income associated with the high himalaya climbing season.  Surprising that lift of restrictions came two days earlier than planned. 

Expeditions on the world’s highest mountain can now climb above Camp 2.  Over the next couple of days climbers will be trying to establish the higher base camps, as well as resume a somewhat normal acclimatization process.

Some climbers, who had went down to Namche Bazaar in Nepal, are now racing back to base camp.  It sems the Chinese’s sumit push caught many of them by surprise as well.  One team, Peak Freaks, has already mentioned that many of their team will now have to walk some 20 miles back to base camp.

As far as news about the further restrictions in south base camp imposed by Nepal, nothing has been mentioned as yet.  Most of us already know that communications equipment, video cameras, cell phones, and cameras were all locked up by Nepal’s liaison officers.  That restriction was suppose to last till May 10th as well.  Also, a no-fly zone had been set up around Mt. Everest.  This is one of the reasons that many expedition members are being forced to walk from Namche Bazaar to base camp.  Without that restriction, in a normal year, helicopter service would be available.  I will have to check on both of these issues and make a later update.

The good news is the climb is now on for the South.  I think most of us will agree that we were hoiping China would do their thing and just get it over with–luckily, they now have.