Climbers nearing Everest summit after 2 years of disasters

Climbers are making good progress on Mount Everest and the first group could reach the summit as early, following two years of disasters on the world's highest mountain, a mountaineering official said today.
Nearly 300 foreign climbers and their guides are attempting to reach the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) summit.
Nepal Mountaineering Department official Gyanendra Shrestha, who is stationed at the base camp, said the last camp at South Col has been set up and the route to the summit was being fixed today.
The South Col, or Camp 4, is located at about 8,000 meters (26,240 feet) altitude and is the last place for climbers to pause before they try to reach the summit. Tents there have basic gear, supplies and oxygen cylinders.

He said weather was favorable for climbing with only light snow falling Tuesday.
Nepal is hoping for a safe 2016 season, after an avalanche triggered by a powerful earthquake killed 19 climbers and injured 61 others at base camp. In 2014, 16 Sherpa guides were killed by an avalanche above the base camp.