Nepali mountaineers clear Everest ice block, open route to Camp 2

Nepali mountaineers have cleared a route past a huge chunk of ice on Mount Everest that has blocked climbers from moving up past Base Camp for two weeks. Ram Krishna Lamichhane, Nepal's director general of tourism, told the BBC that icefall doctors had now fixed ropes up to Camp 2 - located at roughly 6,400 to 6,500 metres (21,000 to 21,325 ft) high. "Still there are some risks, but icefall doctors have picked up the most convenient available route and identified the path forward," Lamichhane said. Teams began fixing ropes last month for the spring season, but they were forced to wait for a huge 100-foot-high (30m) ice block, known as a serac, to start melting. The delay means preparations are weeks behind schedule for the spring, when the weather is usually best for Everest ascents, and fears are growing that climbers will be queuing to reach the summit again this year. But Lamichhane told the BBC: "We have information that from tomorrow, climbers will move towards Camp 1 and Camp 2 for acclimatisation." Nepal's Department of Tourism said this would generate 924,222,675 Nepalese Rupees (£4,535,143; $6,114,955) in government revenue. The work to make a new route for climbers was completed by icefall doctors from Nepal's Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and expert sherpas from organisations of expedition operators who are involved in identifying the trek. Lakpa Sherpa, an expedition operator and veteran climber, said airlift technology was used to support rope-fixing teams by delivering ropes, ladders, snow bars and food during critical phases. The teams also used "3D photogrammetry and real-time drone surveys to map the Khumbu Icefall and assess hazards like seracs and crevasses", he said. "The route to Camp 1 and Camp 2 is now officially open. However, a major serac remains unstable and may collapse within four to five days - avoid carrying heavy loads through the icefall."