This weekend, Imagine Nepal fixed ropes to Camp 4 on Everest at 7,900m, just below the South Col. Soon, hundreds of climbers will occupy it on their final summit push. If the weather holds, the rope fixers — who spent the night in Camp 4 and are now back in Base Camp — will likely summit before the month is out.
The number of permits from Nepal’s Department of Tourism has reached a record 454. The final number may increase with last-minute additions from climbers fresh from another 8,000’er, who want to use their acclimatization to try Everest. That was what Sito Carcavilla did last spring after attempting Dhaulagiri with Carlos Soria. (The pair are back on Dhaulagiri again this year.)
China ‘invades’ Everest
As expected, China tops the list with 96 clients so far, followed by 87 Americans. This is the first time that Americans are not the largest group, Everest Chronicle noted. Chinese clients are taking advantage of fewer restrictions than on the Tibet side. In Nepal, they don’t need to have climbed another 8,000’er before attempting Everest, as they do in Tibet.
Everest numbers in the last four years. Graph: Everest Chronicle
Illicit paragliding
Meanwhile, clients progress on their acclimatization trips to Camp 2. One of them illegitimately decided to descend the fast way, by paragliding without a permit. Darren J. Verploegen of the U.S., a member of the Seven Summit Treks group, launched at some point from the Valley of Silence and flew back down to Base Camp, to his expedition’s leader’s dismay. Verploegen had a permit to climb the mountain but not to paraglide, for which a separate permit is required.
Darren Verproegen (second from the left?) with his paraglider back in Base Camp. Photo: The Himalayan Times
Verploegen claims that he was not aware of the permit requirement, The Himalayan Times reported. “[He] would be barred from climbing in Nepal if found guilty,” THT wrote, quoting a source in Base Camp.
Last year, Pierre Carter of South Africa made the first legal jump off Everest. He launched from the South Col area and landed at Gorak Shep.
