Everest season starts
The 2026 Himalayan climbing season is underway — teams have already reached Annapurna base camp and are setting up logistics for the months ahead. Nicole Santiago, 41, is attempting Everest this season as part of her Seven Summits challenge, spotlighting older climbers pushing big‑mountain goals. ( )
AlpinismOnline reported on March 23, 2026 that the first international expeditions have reached Annapurna Base Camp and described early-stage conditions as favorable for acclimatization and route planning. (alpinismonline.com) Nepal’s Icefall Doctors were dispatched for the spring season and ran refresher training at the Khumbu Climbing Center from March 5–10, 2026. (thehimalayantimes.com) Expedition updates say the Icefall Doctors’ immediate task is fixing ropes and ladders through the Khumbu Icefall up to Camp II in the upper Western Cwm, work that operators report has already begun on the south side. (alanarnette.com) Guides and media list eight Icefall Doctors mobilized for 2026, naming Sherpas such as Ang Sarki, Dawa Jangbu and Mingma Gyaljen among the team members. (gripped.com) Several outlets report the Tibetan (north) approach will be closed to foreign commercial teams this spring, a development expected to concentrate most international traffic on Nepal’s south side. (alpinismonline.com) Commercial operators project the 2026 Everest spring window runs roughly mid‑April through early June, with summit pushes concentrated in short May weather windows after the icefall route is set. (actual-adventure.com) Nicole Santiago’s public fundraiser lists Napa, California as her organizer location and shows it was created May 18, 2025 to cover Sherpa support, food and gear for a two‑month Himalayan expedition. (gofundme.com) Local coverage and profiles note she has been training with stair‑climb workouts and altitude‑mask sessions as part of her pre‑expedition preparation. (msn.com)
