Nepal's Department of Tourism has pledged support for a French-led project to create a safer alternative climbing route on Mount Everest that bypasses the dangerous Khumbu Icefall. The proposed Sundare Sherpa–Marc Batard Route would start from Gorak Shep and join the standard Everest route above the icefall, reducing climbers' exposure to avalanches, crevasses, and unstable ice.
The initiative, led by French mountaineer Marc Batard, honors legendary Nepali climber Sundare Sherpa and aims to improve safety for both climbers and Sherpas. Nepal is seeking funding through the Nepal Tourism Board, with the route reported to be 80% complete. If fully funded, the project could become one of the most significant safety improvements on Everest in recent decades.
