KATHMANDU: Climbing activities on Mt Dhaulagiri have been temporarily suspended due to heavy snowfall and unstable weather conditions, with expedition teams retreating to base camp.

Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, founder of 14 Peaks Expeditions, said climbers who had moved to higher camps for acclimatisation were descending to base camp as the weather deteriorated.

The summit route on Dhaulagiri has not yet been opened this season. Climbing teams have so far reached only Camp II while fixing ropes and conducting acclimatisation rotations.

Lakpa Sherpa, also known as Makalu Lakpa, who is leading the expedition, said the teams had decided to prioritise safety amid the deteriorating conditions and a developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal.

“Our route-fixing team and climbing teams are returning to Base Camp, while our clients are descending toward Pokhara and Jomsom for the time being,” he said.

He said the expedition had been paused rather than cancelled and that the teams would assess the possibility of returning to the mountain if weather conditions improve.

“This is not the end of our expedition. We are simply taking a pause and allowing the mountain and weather conditions to settle,” Lakpa said.

According to the Department of Tourism, four teams comprising 34 foreign climbers have obtained permits to climb Dhaulagiri this autumn.

The suspension comes as adverse weather has also disrupted expeditions on other major peaks. More than 1,000 climbers, including 493 foreigners, have cancelled their autumn expeditions on Mt Manaslu, according to expedition operators, after heavy snowfall and avalanche risks forced teams to retreat from higher camps.