KATHMANDU: A team led by Imagine Nepal Treks has officially opened the summit route on Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586m) for the 2026 climbing season, with ten climbers reaching the top on May 20 in a multi-team effort that tested endurance to its limits.

The route-fixing team — comprising Dawa Gyalje Sherpa (leader, Imagine Nepal), Chheten Tashi Sherpa (Imagine Nepal), Sohail Shehzad of Pakistan, and Buddha Bahadur Gurung of Elite Expeditions — departed in the early hours of May 19 with the goal of reaching the summit by afternoon. Deep snow and difficult high-altitude conditions significantly slowed their ascent, but the team persevered, topping out at 00:12 AM on May 20 and formally opening the route to all climbers this season.

Following the fixing team's success, a combined group of climbers from Imagine Nepal, Rolwaling Excursions, and Satori Adventures departed Camp 4 at approximately 6:30 PM on May 19, reaching the summit between 7:45 and 8:20 AM on May 20. The ten summiteers were:

Palden Namgya Sherpa (Nepal)

Kunnar Karu (Estonia)

Pasang Sherpa (Nepal)

Zeng Xiaoyun (Singapore)

Pasang Namgel Sherpa (Nepal)

Agnieszka Olkowicz (Poland)

Phura Tenzing Sherpa (Nepal) — Rolwaling Excursions

Christopher John Klinke (United States) — Rolwaling Excursions

Nurbu Sherpa (Nepal) — Satori Adventures

Daniela Murinova (Slovakia) — Satori Adventures

Two climbers — Caroline Danielle Leon and MingDorchi Sherpa — were forced to turn back at 8,400m and did not complete the summit push.

"This achievement reflects true determination, teamwork, and resilience in one of the harshest high-altitude environments in the Himalayas," said Mingma G, Managing Director of Imagine Nepal Treks.

The successful opening of Kanchenjunga's summit route marks a significant milestone for the 2026 spring season on the world's third-highest peak.