The spring ascent of Mount Annapurna (8,091 meters) in Myagdi officially kicked off on Monday with a successful summit by 32 climbers, including Nepali Sherpas and foreign mountaineers. According to the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), the climbers reached the summit between 8 AM and 11 AM.
NMA General Secretary Mohan Lamsal reported that the climbers represented several expedition teams: nine from Seven Summit Treks, eight from Pioneer Adventure, nine from 8K Expedition, three from Imagine Nepal, and two from Makalu Adventure. Favorable weather conditions contributed to the high success rate on the very first day of the season.
However, the triumph was overshadowed by the disappearance of two Sherpas—Rima Sherpa and Nima Tashi Sherpa from Solukhumbu—who went missing in an avalanche between Camp II and Camp III. Helicopter searches and Sherpa-led rescue teams are currently working to locate them.
Climber Mingma Sherpa shared his harrowing experience on Facebook, describing dry conditions, massive crevasses, and a treacherous avalanche zone. “With determination and courage, I reached the summit and bid farewell to this beautiful mountain. Though Annapurna’s beauty always drew me in, I can no longer risk my life here,” he wrote.
This season, 66 climbers have secured permits to ascend Annapurna—up from just 25 last year—reflecting renewed interest in the peak. The Annapurna Base Camp, situated at 4,190 meters, is currently teeming with climbers, Sherpas, guides, porters, and tourists.
To date, 520 climbers have successfully summited Annapurna, according to the Department of Tourism. The mountain was first conquered in 1950 by French climber Maurice Herzog. A trekking route named in his honor—the Maurice Herzog Trail—follows his original path from Narchyang to Base Camp.
Access to Base Camp begins from the municipal center of Pokharebagar, followed by a 22-kilometer drive to Homs Khola and a 21-kilometer trek to camp. Along the way, natural attractions such as Phutfate Waterfall, Panchakunda Lake, and panoramic Himalayan vistas have made the region an emerging hub for adventure tourism.
