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Kathmandu, Nov 11: A new, safer route to climb Mount Everest is set to open by March, according to Nepal’s Department of Tourism. The route, which follows the original path used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953 via the Nupse Himal side, is about 80 percent complete. Officials say it will replace the dangerous Khumbu Icefall route that climbers have used since 1984.

Tourism Department Director Himal Gautam said the new 200-meter trail avoids the risky Khumbu Icefall, where most Everest climbing deaths occur. Research and reconstruction of the route are being led by Nepali climber and researcher Kaji Sherpa, along with French mountaineers Marc Batard and Antoine Eroll. Work is supported by French mountaineering organizations and coordinated with Nepal’s Tourism Ministry. The government has approved the project but provided no direct funding.

Gautam said the remaining 20 percent of construction will finish by spring. The team has already set up about 220 of the planned 270 fixed steps, which will support safety ropes and ladders. The estimated total cost is 400,000 US dollars, of which 300,000 has been spent from private donations, mainly from French climbing enthusiasts.

The new route, starting from the base of Nupse, will bypass the Khumbu Icefall, known as Everest’s deadliest zone. Each year about 800 climbers and guides attempt Everest, and nearly a quarter of fatal accidents occur in the Icefall. The department expects the alternative path to significantly reduce risk, crowding, and pollution at the current base camp.

The project, officially approved by the cabinet in January 2025, allows Kaji Sherpa’s team to work up to 6,100 meters, or Camp One. Beyond that, climbers will rejoin the traditional upper route. Gautam said the plan meets environmental and safety standards and could transform mountaineering safety in Nepal.

Experts call the initiative a historic revival. The route symbolizes Nepal’s pride and heritage, said Kaji Sherpa, who described it as “the rebirth of our mountaineering identity.” Local communities and international donors are collaborating closely, and Nepali businesses expect new employment opportunities for guides and porters.

Everest climber Temba Chhiri Sherpa said reopening the path used by Hillary and Tenzing restores the spirit of 1953, when Nepal earned global recognition. Tourism entrepreneurs believe the route will attract more climbers and reaffirm Nepal as the world’s mountaineering hub.

People’s News Monitoring Service