Experts said, as the mountains of the district, situated in the north-east part of the country, have remained largely unaffected by the recent earthquake and aftershocks, they can be best alternatives for mountaineers.
At 8,586 meter, the country's second highest peak Mount Kanchanjungha is one among dozens of other mountains in the district deemed safer for mountaineering by the experts.At the time of the earthquake, there were five expedition groups in the mountains and they have safely completed their mountaineering, according to one of the climbers, Jungdak Sherpa, who reached Phungling from the Kanchanjungha base on Saturday.
"We did not face any threat during our expedition on the mountains here," Sherpa told Republica.
According to Kanchanjungha Conservation Area Project (KCAP), the earthquake of April 25 and aftershocks have not caused any damage in the area.
KCAP Manager Sujit Kumar Shrestha said, "Those who have received climbing permit will find the the mountain area safe for climbing."
"Even the trekking routes used by the mountaineers are safe and have remained unaffected by the earthquake," he added.
Likewise, Mingma Sherpa, a local guide, of Solukhumbu, also shared similar views. Sherpa, who had led a nine-member team from Russia, has recently come back from the mountain area.
"Due to mild tremors felt in this area, the mountains here were not much affected by the quake," said Sherpa, who is also the manager of Seven Summit, a trekking agency based in the capital.
There are 11 mountains with an altitude of above 7,000 meters in Taplejung district alone. All the seven mountains, including Kanchanjungha, Kanchanjungha North, Kanchanjungha South, Pathibhara Chuli, and Khambachen, among them, have been opened by the government for mountaineering since last year.
Related story
Wonders of rock climbing
-1779842101.webp)
