Sherpas on Monday refused to fix the route through the Khumbu Icefall, which was destroyed in the April 25 earthquake, likely ending this year鈥檚 climbing season, .
The Icefall Doctors, the group of Sherpas tasked with maintaining climbing routes through the icefall (between Base Camp and Camp I), informed Nepal鈥檚 Mountaineering Department that they will not fix the route, according to Gyanendra Shrestha, a Nepali official. 鈥淚t is just not possible to rebuild the route in time for climbers to attempt to scale the peak,鈥 Kapindra Rai, of the Sagamartha Pollution Control Committee, which controls聽the Icefall Doctors, told the AP.
The Nepalese government hasn鈥檛 officially announced the closing of the 2015 Everest season. Officials are hesitant to cancel the season and refund climbing permits. After last year鈥檚 avalanche, which killed 16 high-altitude workers in the icefall, the government canceled the season and extended permits one year.
Climbing permits will remain valid until the end of May, but all of the remaining teams have abandoned their attempts. A summit attempt this season appears to be unlikely. If nobody聽attempts a climb, this year will be the first time Everest has gone unclimbed .