On 4th March 2024, the SPCC’s (Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee) Icefall Doctors departed from Namche to set the route for climbers on Mount Everest for climbing season 2024. The Icefall Doctors team will fix and maintain the Khumbu Icefall Route from Everest base camp for climbers attempting to climb Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, and Mt. Nuptse in the Spring 2024 climbing season.
The icefall doctors will attend a one-day training session at the Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC) in Phortse and a week-long training program at Everest Base Camp before the construction of the route. The Icefall Doctors will receive training from renowned climber Conrad Anker and KCC’s instructors. The KCC was founded in 2003 by the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation. It teaches climbing skills, mountain safety, rescue, wilderness first aid, and English every winter.
The team includes Tshering Tenzing Sherpa (Base Camp Manager), eight icefall doctors (Ang Sarki Sherpa, Dawa Nuru Sherpa, Pemba Tshering Sherpa, Ngima Tenzi Sherpa, Ngawang Chimmi Sherpa, Dawa Chirri Sherpa, Dawa Zangbu Sherpa and Mingma Gyaljen Sherpa), two kitchen staff (Ngawang Thanten Sherpa and Wangdi Gelbu Sherpa) and one garbage management staff (Yam Bahadur Lama).
The team will start setting the route after performing puja on March 14. Khumbu authorities, through the SPCC, want to improve waste management at Everest Base Camp this year. Among their new measures: All climbers must carry their waste back.
