Furtenbach Adventures Cancels Summit Plans As Nepal Shuts Down Access to South Side of Mt. Everest

Furtenbach Adventures, the expedition company known for reinventing the high altitude climbing experience, announced today the cancellation of this season’s Mount Everest summit expeditions.

The announcement comes on the heels of news from the Nepalese government that the country is shutting down access to the Nepal-side of the mountain.  In a policy move that mirrors one China made earlier this week that prohibits north side access to the iconic mountain in Tibet, Nepal is now preventing climbers from south side accents, all on fears of a Coronavirus outbreak.

“This is disappointing news for both our expedition leaders and our clients who have trained for months for this year’s climb,” said Lukas Furtenbach, the Founder and CEO of the guided expedition company that bears his name. “At Furtenbach, we continue to emphasize safety and wellbeing above all us, so we understand the dire consequences a Covid-19 outbreak at base camp would have. Sadly, we have to agree that this is a responsible call to make right now.”

Breathing is already a challenge at high altitudes, so an outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, a severe respiratory disease, among the climbers would be particularly devastating. While preparing for their accent, climbers stay in close quarters in tented base camps, which is another concern when it comes to infectious diseases.

“We are currently alerting all our customers about the cancellation and are arranging refunds for the refundable portions of their expeditions,” explained Furtenbach. “At the same time, we’re already looking ahead to next year’s season, as well as the other great adventures our company offers.”

For 20 years, Furtenbach Adventures has used research, development, and technology to become an innovative leader in the guided expedition sector and features an impeccable safety record unmatched in the industry.

To learn more about Furtenbach Adventures and how it uses technology and medical monitoring to enhance climbing safety, visit: https://www.furtenbachadventures.com.

About Furtenbach Adventures

Furtenbach Adventures was founded in Austria in 2014 by outdoor adventurist, Lukas Furtenbach. Furtenbach has over 20 years’ experience guiding small groups on extraordinary summits. The company offers climbers premium expeditions to the highest peaks on earth and offers the best safety record in the industry. Furtnenbach opened a US office in Lake Tahoe in 2019.