Preparations for the Manaslu Expedition 2026 are moving ahead as a dedicated seven-member rope-fixing team prepares to head toward Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest mountain, ahead of the autumn climbing season. The team has been assigned to prepare and secure the climbing route by installing fixed ropes and completing essential route-management work. The Expedition Operators Association (EOA-Nepal) formally bid farewell to the team in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Seven-Member Team to Prepare Manaslu Climbing Route
Chhiring Bhote leads the rope-fixing team and includes Lopsang Bhote, Pam Dorjee Sherpa, Furi Sherpa, Ngima Sherpa, Karma Sarki Sherpa, and Pasang Gyaljen Sherpa. The team will work along the Manaslu climbing route, fixing ropes at critical sections and preparing the route for climbers arriving during the autumn expedition season. EOA has taken direct responsibility for coordinating the operation, with expedition agencies providing logistical support. The preparation of fixed ropes is an essential part of high-altitude mountaineering. It provides climbers with secured lines through steep and technically demanding sections, helping expedition teams move more safely toward higher camps and the summit.
Route Preparation Crucial for Climber Safety
The farewell ceremony brought together prominent figures from Nepal’s tourism and mountaineering sectors, including EOA President Dambar Parajuli, Nepal Mountaineering Association President Phur Gelje Sherpa, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal President Sagar Pandey, and other tourism stakeholders. During the ceremony, the association handed the team the Nepali national flag along with flags representing the Department of Tourism and EOA. The flags are intended to be taken to the summit as part of the expedition.
The rope-fixing operation is particularly important because the main autumn climbing season attracts a large number of international mountaineers. EOA estimates that more than 300 foreign climbers, alongside Nepali climbers and mountain guides, are expected to attempt Manaslu this year.
Manaslu Set for Busy Autumn Mountaineering Season
At 8,163 meters, Manaslu is one of Nepal’s most significant high-altitude climbing destinations and a major attraction for international adventure tourists. The mountain’s autumn climbing season is one of the key periods in Nepal’s annual mountaineering calendar.
EOA has been involved in route-opening and rope-fixing operations on major Himalayan peaks, including Everest, and considers the work an important part of maintaining safe climbing infrastructure in Nepal. With the rope-fixing team now preparing to begin its assignment, the Manaslu region is moving into the final stages of preparation for the 2026 autumn expedition season. The completion of the route will provide a safer foundation for domestic and international mountaineers aiming for the summit and further support Nepal’s growing mountaineering tourism industry.
