Nepal’s ‘Hidden’ Mountains Draw New Wave of Climbers

AFP/APP

Kathmandu: Nepal’s world-famous peaks, including Mount Everest, have long lured climbers from across the globe, but a growing number of adventurers are now turning toward lesser-known summits that promise solitude—and the chance to be first to the top.

The Himalayan nation, home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, welcomes hundreds of climbers each year, making mountaineering a lucrative business. While commercial expeditions dominate Everest and other 8,000-metre giants, a new generation of alpinists is exploring countless 6,000- and 7,000-metre summits scattered across Nepal.

The country has 462 peaks open for climbing, with around a hundred yet to be summited.

“If you are only interested in the height of the peak, then there are limited mountains to climb,” said French alpinist and veteran expedition leader Paulo Grobel. “But if you open your interest to 7,900 metres, there’s a lot of potential. If you go to 6,900 metres, you have many more peaks waiting.”

This autumn, Nepal has issued 1,323 climbing permits. While most climbers join large commercial expeditions on popular peaks, smaller independent teams are venturing into remote, lesser-known areas—often climbing in true alpine style: no supplementary oxygen, no fixed ropes, minimal support, and carrying all their own gear.

The concept is not new, but it is rapidly gaining momentum.

‘Adventure is Way Bigger’

“It’s a huge challenge,” said French mountaineering star Benjamin Vedrines, 33, fresh from completing the first ascent of the 7,468-metre Jannu East with fellow climber Nicolas Jean.

“For me, it is very important. Alpine style is completely different in terms of skills and passion. The adventure is way bigger,” he said.

Vedrines believes that Nepal offers immense possibilities for such climbs outside the highest peaks.

“They’re just lower than 8,000 metres,” he said. “Maybe society values them less, but they’re underrated. There’s so much left to explore.”

This shift comes as concerns over sustainability, overcrowding, and commercialisation reshape global mountaineering trends.

Billi Bierling, who manages the Himalayan Database, welcomed the change:

“With more crowds on the 8,000’ers, it’s actually a beautiful development that young, technically able alpinists are looking at other, more interesting peaks. Hopefully, it will also be safer because that’s the next thing.”

Endless Possibilities

Many of Nepal’s mid-range peaks remain logistically difficult to access—not due to technical difficulty but because of remoteness.

“In Nepal, what is challenging is access,” said Vinayak Malla, a Nepali climber and guide whose team was nominated for the Piolets d’Or award for the first ascent of the 6,450-metre Patrasi Peak last year.

“It’s expensive to travel, and then you have to trek to areas where hotels barely exist,” he added. “Rescue is difficult.”

On the positive side, smaller expeditions distribute tourism income more evenly across remote valleys that have long remained outside mainstream trekking routes.

In August, Nepal waived climbing fees for 97 mountains to promote lesser-known peaks.

“We are seeing more interest in mountains below 8,000 metres,” said Himal Gautam, chief of the mountaineering section at Nepal’s Tourism Department. “Gradually, we’re promoting new regions so that as interest increases, the infrastructure and manpower needed to support them can develop.”

Grobel summed it up as another chapter in “Nepal’s climbing story.”

“If you are interested in the climbing experience, you need to go to the other peaks,” he said. “The possibilities are endless.”