Nepal Waives Fees for 97 Lesser-Known Peaks to Promote Solitude and Sustainable Climbing
Nepal's tourism department has waived fees for 97 lesser-known peaks, encouraging climbers to explore beyond the country's famous giants. This move aims to promote solitude and sustainable mountaineering.
Nepal, home to eight of the world's ten highest peaks, offers a vast playground of 6,000- and 7,000-meter peaks, many of which have never been summited. Of the 462 mountains open for climbing, nearly 100 remain unconquered.
Modern climbers are embracing 'alpine style' ascents, favouring light, fast, and self-reliant climbs without oxygen or fixed ropes. This approach allows for a purer climbing experience and helps ease crowding on popular peaks like Everest.
French climbers Benjamin Vedrines and Nicolas Jean recently made history by achieving the first ascent of Jannu East (7,468 m) via the north face in October. They initially acclimatized by climbing Anidesh Chuli. Vedrines, a proponent of 'alpine style', has also made first ascents of other peaks in Nepal using this method.
With the fee waiver, Nepal's tourism department hopes to draw adventurers to its lesser-known summits, promoting solitude and sustainable mountaineering. The shift in focus from Everest to these 'hidden mountains' not only benefits climbers seeking pure experiences but also helps distribute tourism revenue across the country.
