As if attempting to climb Mount Everest isn’t challenging enough at the best of times, the Department of Tourism in Kathmandu says that more than 300 foreigners have expressed interest in climbing the world’s tallest mountain this spring, despite the pandemic.

There’s similar interest for other mountains too, said Mira Acharya, a director at the department.

One Japanese and four Canadians climbers are already trekking their way to the base camps of Mount Manaslu and Mount Nuptse, respectively, Acharya said.

The spring season, which is popular because of favourable weather, began this month. It extends up to the end of May, when weather deteriorates and climbing becomes dangerous.

Those wishing to scale mountains still have to be quarantined in a hotel in the capital and test negative for the coronavirus.

Mount Everest, at 8,848 metres above sea level, typically attracts about 800 climbers a year. More than 300 have died attempting the ascent.