Aziz praises Nepal's Sherpa guides but urges flexibility in "true summit" recognition to reduce high-altitude risk KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 26 Canadian-Iranian mountaineer and bestselling author Andrew Aziz has urged Nepal's climbing authorities to reconsider how official Manaslu summit records are certified, after reaching the 8,163-metre peak on September 24 with Nepal's Kaitu Expedition. Climber honours Khumbu chair for supporting 2023 Everest expedition Sudurpaschim Province govt calls for massive public awareness against Chhaupadhi Aziz, an experienced Himalayan climber who has also scaled Everest, said he was struck by the beauty of Manaslu but alarmed by the crowding and delays near the true summit ridge, where only a single fixed line forced climbers to wait for hours in the thin air of the so-called death zone. "At around 8,200 metres people had to wait for hours just to get onto the ridge," Aziz said. "On the way down climbers were holding on to each other for balance. It took nearly two extra hours just for that final section-for what? A picture." For decades, most mountaineers stopped at a slightly lower "false summit," but the true summit has become the officially recognised endpoint in recent years. Base-camp rumours suggested climbers might even need a photo without an oxygen mask to receive a government summit certificate-an idea Aziz called "disappointing" and unnecessarily risky. "The difference between the false and true summit is only a few metres. The accomplishment is the same," he said, proposing that a prayer flag be installed at the safer point so climbers can mark their achievement without venturing onto the crowded ridge. Despite the concerns, Aziz praised Nepal's guiding community and government for their leadership in Himalayan climbing. "Nepal has become the heart of the mountaineering world," he said. "The Sherpas, the tour operators, and the officials have all done so much to make climbing safer and more accessible. I'm grateful for their culture and commitment to protecting both climbers and the mountains themselves." Aziz shared a photograph of the summit ridge packed with more than 50 climbers, illustrating the dangers of congestion at extreme altitude. "Manaslu amazed me," he added, "and I hope future climbers can experience it with the same awe-without unnecessary risk."