Climbers begin arriving at Dhaularigi Base Camp

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Beni, Sept. 24: Mountaineers attempting to climb Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest mountain, have begun arriving at base camp, located in Mudi Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-4, Myagdi.

According to the Department of Tourism (DoT), a total of 24 climbers, both domestic and international, have so far obtained permits to climb the 8,167-metre-high Dhaulagiri for this autumn climbing season. Now that the weather has begun to clear, climbers and their accompanying Sherpas have started making their way to the base camp.

Hari Prasad Tilija, a tourism entrepreneur from Mudi, informed that climbers have started reaching the base camp located at an altitude of 4,750 metres. Due to a landslide blocking the usual route via Mudi, climbers are now approaching the  base camp via Marpha in Mustang, passing through Yak Kharka, said Tilija.

The DoT informed that a total of Rs. 5.71 million in royalty fees has been collected from climbers who have obtained permits for Dhaulagiri so far. 

Tilija mentioned that climbers, along with Sherpas, guides, porters, and other support staff, have started arriving at base camp. He explained that since the traditional trekking route via Mudi Bagar has been damaged and is winding and longer, climbers are taking the Mustang route instead.During last year's autumn and spring seasons, a total of 30 climbers from four groups had obtained permits to climb Dhaulagiri, from which the government collected Rs. 5.62 million in revenue, said the DoT. 

The team of Sherpas who have reached base camp will initially work on route fixing and rope installation. Dhaulagiri is known for its unpredictable weather, making the ascent particularly challenging. Climbers have shared that the unstable conditions make climbing Dhaulagiri especially difficult.