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KATHMANDU, May 15-- A team of 14 rope-fixing climbers on Monday stood atop the world's highest peak Mount Qomolangma, becoming the first team of 2017 to reach the summit from south face in Nepal. Though other Sherpa climbers had already opened the route to the top of Qomolangma via China's Tibet last week, expedition from Nepal side was delayed this spring season owing to bad weather. "A team of 14 rope-fixing climbers have reached the summit between 1:15 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. today," Gyanendra Shrestha, a Tourism Ministry official, told Xinhua on Monday. Last year, the rope fixing task was completed on May 11. "The first two summiteers are Pema Chhiring and Pem Chhiri who stood atop at 1:15, " Phurba Tenzing Sherpa, a record holder Qomolangma climber told Xinhua from the base camp. Fourteen high altitude mountain guides were assigned for rope fixing from Camp II to top of the 8,848 meter peak under Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN). Dambar Parajuli, President of EOAN, told Xinhua on Monday, "As the route is open now, the rope-fixing Sherpa will return to base camp and escort their clients to the summit." The ascent of the 14 climbers has paved the way for all the commercial and independent summits of 2017. According to Department of Tourism, 40 expedition teams comprising 373 climbers from various countries are conquering the world's highest peak this spring season. May is regarded as the perfect window for Qomolangma expedition in terms of favorable weather between winter and monsoon. | 
