KATHMANDU: A team of 10 Sherpas under the Expedition Operators' Association Nepal successfully fixed ropes to Camp IV at the South Col of Mount Everest, at 7,906 metres, by 7:15 pm on Thursday, opening the high-altitude route for the spring climbing season's summit bids.

The rope-fixing team, led by Migma Dorchi Sherpa, completed the South Col route on the evening of May 8, according to the base camp field office. 

Expeditions on the mountain will now begin setting up tents at Camp IV and preparing for their summit pushes.

With the route open to Camp IV, load ferry operations, oxygen cache drops, and climber rotation procedures are expected to begin from Saturday for all climbers, Sherpas, and logistics operators, according to Chhang Dawa Sherpa, expedition leader at Seven Summit Treks. Fair weather and stable winds are currently supporting summit preparations, he said.

The South Col milestone caps a week of sustained high-altitude work by EOAN's rope-fixing teams. Earlier in the week, route construction above Camp III was completed and a second carry of tents, food, ropes, and equipment to Camp II was finished on April 4. According to EOAN Secretary General Rishiram Bhandari, Teams then pushed continuously through the Juniper and Yellow Band sections despite light snowfall, reaching the Juniper zone — below Camp IV — before completing the final push to South Col on Friday evening.

EOAN expects to open the final summit route within a week, weather permitting, the base camp field office said.