Despite the winter season being considered unsuitable for mountaineering and trekking in high Himalayan regions, climbers have arrived to scale Annapurna this season. The months of Mangsir and Poush are generally deemed challenging for such activities, with spring and autumn being more favorable periods.
According to Tej Gurung, an advocate for the Maurice Herzog Trail connecting to Annapurna Base Camp, four climbers from Spain, Italy, and Iraq set off today from Narchyang toward the base camp. “After traveling by vehicle to Humkhola, the climbers began their trek to the base camp,” Gurung reported. “This is the first instance I’ve seen climbers coming for an Annapurna expedition during the winter season.”
Accompanied by Nepali assistants and Sherpas, the climbers plan to spend a few days at the base camp before attempting the 8,091-meter-high Annapurna peak. The base camp, situated at an altitude of 4,100 meters above sea level, lies in Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, Myagdi.
Gurung highlighted that Annapurna Base Camp has recently become a popular destination for domestic tourists. During the Dashain and Tihar festivals, approximately 5,000 visitors explored the region. However, as temperatures drop and snow begins to accumulate in the rivers and lakes along the trail, the number of tourists visiting the area has significantly declined.
