Mount Everest reopens for climbers after 2-year closure

Mount Everest is open again for climbers. A Nepal Tourism Ministry official disclosed on Monday that 236 foreigners divided into 22 teams left for Everest to acclimatise ahead of the climb.

Nepal closed the world's tallest peak in 2014 and 2015 after a series of deadly avalanches that killed 16 Nepali climbers while preparing the route. But following the cancellation of all expeditions that year, the government extended the permits granted for 2014 by five years.

The April 25, 2015, earthquake created an avalanche which killed 20 people and led to the cancellation of all expeditions for that year. However, the government extended the 2015 permits for two years, reports News.com.au.

The foreign climbers, who paid $11,000 (AUD$14,345) each, would begin their ascent in May. They will be accompanied by Nepali assistants who set the ladders and ropes for the climbers ahead of the season. They have finished putting in place the infrastructure for this season’s climb and say the slope are safe enough for climbers to reach the peak.

Gyanendra Shrestha, the tourism official, says besides the 22 teams, another six teams have applied for permits to climb this 2016.

Among the 236 who would climb Mount Everest this year is Marine Charlie Linville from Boise, Idaho. Linville, a 30-year-old father of two, would have Tim Wayne Medvetz as his climbing partner in their third try. It would be a double challenge for Linville whose right leg was amputated below the knee caused by a bomb explosion in Afghanistan, reports People.

Their first two tries were stopped by natural calamities. But if they are successful, Linville would make climbing history as the first combat-wounded veteran to reach Mount Everest’s summit. Medvetz, 45, says if they fail a third time, they would still make more attempts even if it takes 10, 12 or 20 expeditions to bring Linville to the peak.

A 2001 motorcycle crash as a member for a decade of Hell’s Angel caused partial paralysis on Medvetz. The two men belong to The Heroes Project that Medvetz established in 2009 to help soldiers wounded in combat to recover from injuries. He based it on his experienced of recovering from partial paralysis and depression by climbing mountains.