KATHMANDU: The route to Camp III on Mt Manaslu has been opened and fixed with ropes, clearing the way for climbers to begin acclimatisation rotations and move essential equipment higher up the world's eighth-highest mountain.

The route-opening and rope-fixing team deployed by the Expedition Operators Association Nepal (EOAN) completed the work up to Camp III on Thursday, according to EOAN General Secretary Rishi Ram Bhandari.

With the route now secured to Camp III, expedition teams can take their climbers to the first, second and third camps for acclimatisation and transport necessary equipment to the higher camps, Bhandari said.

However, the team will not immediately extend the route from Camp III to Camp IV and the summit. Bhandari said the work would be continued when weather and snowfall conditions are favourable.

He said fixing the route further ahead before heavy snowfall could bury the ropes and make it difficult to manage the route again.

“We will take the route-opening and rope-fixing work further ahead at an appropriate time, taking into account weather conditions and snowfall,” Bhandari said.

The progress comes as autumn expeditions on Manaslu gather pace. The Department of Tourism has issued climbing permits to 348 climbers from 29 teams, collecting more than Rs 150 million in royalties so far.

More than 200 climbers and support staff had already headed towards the Manaslu base camp through Samagaun by September 4, with expedition operators reporting that teams were preparing for acclimatisation rotations.