Serac blocks Everest route as spring climbing season begins (April 2026)

The Iran war affects fuel costs and travel; officials say large numbers expect to attempt Everest this year, with flights slightly reduced but mountaineering less affected than trekking.

Spring Everest climbing fees increased to $15,000 for foreign nationals (from $11,000) and to $1,000 for Nepalis (doubled).

Department of Tourism reports 367 climbing permits have been issued so far, with most holders Chinese; China has not issued permits for foreign nationals this year.

Purnima Shrestha is currently acclimatising to summit Everest for the sixth time and notes the climbing window could be narrow if many climbers attempt in a short period.

Nepal's Department of Tourism says it is exploring options, including airlifting the rope-fixing team and their logistics to Camp 2 by helicopter to open the route above that altitude for now.

After four days touring the area, climbers say there is no safe bypass around the serac and scaling the block is too risky.

The team reached the 100-foot-high serac block under Camp 1; the crevasse below is melting.

Icefall doctors reached Base Camp about three weeks before the report, initiating rope-fixing work on the lower part of the Everest route.

Last year (2025), more than 700 people summited from the Nepalese side, while about 100 climbed from China.

Purnima Shrestha made the first push for the summit in 2024 on May 11, going on to summit Everest three times that season.

Photos of climbers queueing on Mount Everest went viral in 2019, prompting Nepal to tighten its permit system and sharply raise prices.