The spring climbing season on Annapurna I, the world’s tenth-highest peak standing at 8,091 meters, has officially begun with the first successful ascent of the year. Located in Annapurna Rural Municipality–4, Narchyang of Myagdi district, the mountain witnessed its first summit push on Saturday.
A 12-member expedition team led by Lakpa Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks successfully reached the summit. The team included seven Nepali climbers and five foreign climbers, marking a strong start to the season.
International and Nepali Climbers Among the First Summiteers
According to the company, the foreign climbers who summited Annapurna included Charles Page from Canada; Valery Babanov, Vladimir Afanasiev, and Yuri Kuglov from Russia; and Isfarli Asurli from Azerbaijan. They were joined by Nepali climbers Lakpa Sherpa, Chewang, Dawa Norbu, Pasang Dungpa, Chhanguba, Taraman, and Pasang Sherpa, all of whom successfully reached the summit on the same day.
Additional Climbers Achieve Success
In a separate development, mountaineering campaigner Tej Bahadur Gurung of the Maurice Herzog Trail reported that two climbers from the Netherlands and Australia, along with a Sherpa guide, also successfully summited Annapurna at around 10:15 AM on Saturday. “The first team of this season has successfully climbed Annapurna,” Gurung said, adding that activity has increased not only among climbers but also among trekkers heading to the base camp.
Rising Activity at Base Camp
With the start of the climbing season, Annapurna Base Camp has started to see a rise in activity. Climbers from different expedition companies, along with trekkers, have begun gathering in the area, creating a lively atmosphere in the Himalayan region.
Permits and Revenue Collection
According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 27 climbers from four expedition teams have received permits to climb Annapurna this season. The government has collected revenue amounting to Rs 12,049,175 from these permits, as confirmed by department official Sharmila Banjade. Last spring season, 66 climbers had obtained permits to ascend Annapurna, indicating a comparatively smaller but steady interest this year.
A Mountain with Historic Legacy
Annapurna I holds a significant place in mountaineering history. It was first successfully climbed in 1950 by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog, making it the first 8,000-meter peak ever to be summited. Just three years later, in 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay went on to achieve the historic first ascent of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. With the first successful summit already achieved, this year’s Annapurna climbing season is now fully underway, drawing global attention from the mountaineering community.
