The much awaited climbing season on Dhaulagiri, Nepal’s second highest peak at 8,167 m, was interrupted as the cloudy weather forced climbers to retreat from the mountain for the time being. About 30 climbers, who reached Dhaulagiri Base Camp in Myagdi, have descended to the Italian Base Camp as the weather forecast predicted adverse weather in the Himalayas. The expedition team members had geared up for the challenge to climb the second highest peak in Nepal, when the bad weather started disrupting the climbing activities.
Climbers Retreat as Weather Conditions Worsen
According to tourism professional Indra Singh Sherchan, the expedition team members left Dhaulagiri Base Camp on Thursday as the authorities sounded an alert for heavy rain from September 25 to 27. They have decided to postpone the climbing activities as they will leave for the peak after four days. Meanwhile, some of the climbers have come down to Pokhara by helicopter while others have headed down the mountain.
The team members had arrived at Dhaulagiri Base Camp last Saturday through A8K, Seven Summit and Fourteen Peaks trekking agencies. This year’s autumn is considered as the best climbing season as the foreign mountaineers come down to Nepal to scale the heights of the Himalayas. However, the mountain peaks, including Dhaulagiri, are known for the unpredictable weather and the decision to descend from the base camp was difficult but necessary.
34 Climbers Got Permission To Explore Dhaulagiri This Autumn
The expedition team members were not the only ones who decided to postpone their activities as the Department of Tourism has permitted 34 climbers, including 10 women, from 4 different expeditions, to explore Dhaulagiri this autumn. According to the Department of Tourism, the government has earned Rs 7.78 million from the issuing of climbing permits to the mountaineers who have signed up for the expedition. Dhaulagiri has received permits for 28 climbers from 3 different expeditions during the spring season. However, the autumn of 2082 BS saw 36 climbers getting the government’s permission to climb Dhaulagiri.
On the other hand, this sudden setback reminded Nepal’s adventure tourism agencies and the government about the significance of the weather before any climbing or trekking activities on the Himalayas. Myagdi has been marked as one of the vulnerable regions by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, due to the heavy rains that have been forecasted in the region. The Department of Tourism has asked the climbers to stay updated regarding the weather in the Himalayas whereas the Annapurna Conservation Area Project has advised people to avoid visiting the Annapurna Base Camp until the weather clears up.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Disrupted Due To Rainfall
Similarly, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Myagdi was also affected by the severe weather as the tourists, who embarked on the adventure, have returned due to the unfavourable conditions. The Maurice Herzog trail has been closed since Thursday, according to the trail campaigner Tej Gurung. This year’s autumn is known as the peak season for tourism activities in Nepal. However, the unfavourable weather seems to have impacted the adventure tourism activities right at the start.
Gurung stated that the heavy rainfall along with the recent Bhotekoshi flooding have discouraged many tourists from embarking on their adventure. As a result, the rain not only impacted the mountaineering activities but also the trekking expeditions and the mountain tourism operators are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast to resume the activities.
Dhaulagiri’s Legacy In The History Of Nepalese Mountaineering
Ever since its first summit on May 13, 1960, Dhaulagiri has been the centre of attracting many mountaineers from all around the world. The first ever expedition team led by the famous Austrian mountaineer Kurt Diemberger, consisted of Peter Diener, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Nima Dorje Sherpa and Nawang Dorje Sherpa. Standing at 8,167 m, the mountain peak has been a popular site for many challenging high altitude mountaineering expeditions. Its rugged terrain and unpredictable weather demands a lot from the would-be-climbers and for their safety, it is important to consider the weather conditions before embarking on any climbing expeditions.
