In a whirlwind of contradicting events, Nepal closed the Khumbu region on Thursday, then reopened it on Sunday. Climbers are now headed to Ama Dablam. The list of Winter 2020\/21 K2 aspirants made public.<\/p>\n
Last spring, Prime Minister declared Nepal a “Covid-19 free-zone,” and allowed Nepalis working overseas to return on a limited basis. \u00a0The lack of effective quarantine and the testing processes started a steady increase of new cases and deaths, that now, sets a new record daily. Today,\u00a0the death toll reached 829; with the national total at 153,008 and 4,499 new infections.<\/p>\n
In the summer, they closed the borders to foreigners, including climber and trekkers with the exception of a Qatar Prince who somehow used his position, and no doubt wealth, to climb Lobuche and Manaslu.<\/p>\n
However, on October 17, foreigners were allowed in as long as they met certain testing and quarantine requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n Then on October 22, one Sherpa who visited Kathmandu and returned to Namche Bazzar tested positive for the virus. He was immediately helicoptered to Kathamndu for treatment and a team of doctors sent to the Himalayan village for extensive testing.<\/p>\n Now, only three days later, October 25, 2020, apparently, the Government has lifted the ban on travel to the Khumbu. Garrett Madison, Madison Mountaineering, wrapping up a seven-day quarantine at the 5 Star Yak and Yeti hotel in Kathmandu for his seven-person team posted<\/a> today, Sunday, October 25, 2020:<\/p>\n Hello!\u00a0 This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam<\/a> team dispatch and the Gokyo trek<\/a> team dispatch.\u00a0 It\u2019s Sunday evening here in Kathmandu and things are looking good!<\/p>\n We just finished our last dinner here before we\u2019re heading up to the mountains tomorrow.\u00a0 The Khumbu is re-opened and we got permission to fly up to Lukla tomorrow and start our trek to base camp!\u00a0 We\u2019re excited, we\u2019re all packed up, and we\u2019re looking forward to, hopefully, being up in the mountains tomorrow.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a wonderful stay here in Kathmandu.\u00a0 We\u2019ve actually really had a good time quarantining here at the Yak & Yeti hotel<\/a>, enjoying some nice meals, and some good quality time here hanging out.<\/p>\n So, fingers crossed, tomorrow we\u2019ll be up in the Khumbu<\/a> and on our way to base camp!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Another small team is there lead by UK’s Kenton Cool. They are also after Ama Dablam. Plus another high-powered Middle East climber, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani from Qatar\u2019s royal family. Finally, there is a team lead by Seven Summits Treks with Swiss climber Sophie Lavaud,\u00a0and Russian Sergey Baranov.<\/p>\n As has become the norm in recent years, several teams announced a winter K2 attempt. Of course, this is the remaining crown jewel in mountaineering – a no O’s winter summit of K2.<\/p>\n The Russian outfit 7 Summits Club with\u00a0Alex Abramov<\/a>\u00a0said he would go. He and his life partner\u00a0Lucy Korobeshko are returning from Pakistan for training. Alex says the effort will be by 32 climbers from four countries (Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan) on two routes.<\/p>\nKhumbu Region Closes After New Case<\/h3>\n
Khumbu Reopens for Climbers<\/h3>\n
Winter K2<\/h2>\n