Climbers Clear Path to Everest Summit Past Giant Chunk of Ice

An elite team of Nepali climbers have managed to clear a way to the summit of Mount Everest, as experts warn of overcrowding this climbing season.

Hundreds of mountaineers and their guides have been stranded for the past few weeks at the Everest Base Camp in Nepal after a huge chunk of ice blocked their only viable route.

The Nepali climbers managed to fix ropes and ladders as they found a way past the obstacle on Wednesday morning. Other climbers can now start climbing up using these ropes.

But some experts are worried about "traffic jams" and safety at the world's highest peak, especially in a year when a record number of permits have been issued to Everest aspirants.

Almost 500 foreign climbers have been granted permits to scale the 8,849m (29,032ft) peak this year. Most attempt the ascent with at least one Nepali guide, who do not require permits.

This means that some 1,000 climbers will be climbing toward the summit in the next two weeks or so.

- Authors: Anbarasan Ethirajan, and Kelly Ng, BBC