Nepal has issued 492 permits for climbers on Mount Everest this spring season – more than ever before. This is partly due to China's closure of the ascent route in Tibet. The Sherpas anticipate congestion on what is now the only remaining route.
Several hundred people attempt to summit Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain at 8.849 meters, every year. During the spring season, Nepal has a high number of climbers. 492 certifications for climbers from 55 nations More permits have been issued than ever before. The Nepalese Ministry of Tourism speaks of a "historic moment"—meanwhile, the Sherpas fear that dangerous bottlenecks could occur before reaching the summit.
China closes route through Tibet
One reason for the record number of approvals is related to Nepal's neighbor, China. Normally, Everest climbers spread out between routes from Nepal and Tibet, which is occupied by China. Now, the Chinese government has closed the ascent of Everest from the Tibetan side. The only route now leads via the Nepalese south side.
For Nepal, this means even more visitors, whose numbers have already been rising for years. A record 478 permits were issued in 2023, and 468 in 2024. Last year, Nepal increased the fees from $11.000 to $15.000. – This didn't achieve much. According to official figures, most of the 492 registrations for the 2026 main season come from China, the USA and India.
Sherpas expect traffic jams on the southern route
The record number of climbing permits is just one reason why the Sherpas on Mount Everest are looking ahead to the rest of the season with concern. The weather is also expected to become significantly more difficult in the coming days – a challenge given the current influx of climbers on the mountain.
Overall, progress on Everest is currently behind the usual seasonal schedule: Until a few days ago, the route to the summit was also blocked by a unstable serac The route is blocked approximately 300 meters below Camp 1. Visitors typically ascend to Base Camp 2 for acclimatization starting in mid-April. From May onward, the weather is usually good enough for initial attempts, conditions permitting.
Limited weather windows mean high demand here on Everest, especially with almost 500 visitors plus Sherpas on site. Many of them will encounter difficulties.
Sherpa Mingma G
For the Sherpas on the ground, one thing is clear: the more people there are on Mount Everest, the higher the risk for everyone. Looking at the sometimes dramatic footage from recent years, the concern for this season becomes even more palpable. Every year, several fatal accidents occur on Everest – especially at the notorious Khumbu Icefall. In 2014, 16 Sherpas died there when a serac collapsed.
Nepal: politically tense situation
Tourism on Mount Everest is one of Nepal's most important sources of income. According to media reports, the country receives Approximately 6 million euros annually from Everest permits One. In total, 8 of the 14 eight-thousanders are located in Nepal, where around 30 million inhabitants from over 100 ethnic groups live.
At the same time, Nepal is still considered politically unstable: in 2025 there were serious incidents. Unrest and protests The crisis originated in the country after the government blocked various social media platforms. Following the resignation of the then-prime minister, parliament was dissolved, and new elections were held.
These developments have already had an impact on the alpine scene: Last year, due to the tensions, there were slightly fewer permits for Mount Everest than in 2024. The 2026 season does not appear to be affected.
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Image credits: Adobe Stock Standard License