A historic moment awaits Nepal’s mountaineering community as a safer route to Mount Everest is expected to reopen by mid-April 2025, offering climbers an alternative to the perilous Khumbu Icefall. The path, originally used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa during their legendary 1953 ascent, has undergone 80% restoration work and promises to revolutionize Everest climbing safety.

Reviving the Historic Nuptse Route

The Department of Tourism, Government of Nepal, confirmed that the new route through Nuptse Peak will bypass the Icefall — a section notorious for avalanches and unstable seracs. Director Himal Gautam noted that the updated route is designed with improved safety infrastructure, reducing the most life-threatening segment of the Everest climb.

Climbers Kaji Sherpa, Marc Batard, and Antoine Erole have been leading the international team in restoring this forgotten path, with technical assistance and environmental oversight from the Sagarmatha National Park authority.

Collaboration and Global Effort

The initiative is being supported by several French mountaineering organizations, coordinated through the French Mountaineering Federation, and guided under the tourism ministry’s supervision. Approximately 270 fixed steps are planned, with 220 already installed, and the project’s total cost is estimated at USD 400,000, largely funded by global donors.

According to The Himalayan Database, the Khumbu Icefall accounts for nearly 25% of Everest climbing fatalities — underscoring the importance of this safer Nuptse route.

Economic and Cultural Significance

Local communities in Solukhumbu are optimistic. The route revival is expected to create new jobs for guides and porters, boost tourism-based businesses, and reduce congestion in the Everest Base Camp area.
Mountaineering expert Ang Tshering Sherpa said the new route “represents both a safer ascent and the rebirth of Nepal’s climbing heritage.”

This project is not only a safety milestone but also a cultural tribute to the first Everest pioneers. As Nepal positions itself for a new tourism wave in 2025, the restored route reinforces its global reputation as the heart of the Himalayan adventure.