Everest as seen from Tibet, China.

Everest as seen from Tibet. Image by Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn) / CC BY 2.0

Following two climbing seasons devastated by natural disasters, mountaineers are looking to China, and the technically more challenging north route to the summit of Everest, as an alternative to the more popular southern route from Nepal. The key factor seems to be the Nepali government’s response to the disasters, and uncertainty about whether permits will be extended if climbing is suspended after a natural disaster, rather than specific safety fears about the southern route to the summit via the Khumbu icefall. Read more: reuters.com