Covid 19 Nepal: Veteran Everest operators scrap Spring climbing season 13 May, 2021 09:14 PM 5 minutes to read 1000-tent city: South Everest base camp in Nepal has welcomed a record number of climbers. Photo / Jason Maehl, Getty Images 1000-tent city: South Everest base camp in Nepal has welcomed a record number of climbers. Photo / Jason Maehl, Getty Images Thomas Bywater is a writer and digital producer for Herald Travelthomas.bywater@nzherald.co.nz@ThomasBywater New Zealand's most experienced Everest tour operators decided to scrap their mountaineering season amid operational difficulties and concern over a growing Covid 19 outbreak in Nepal. Guy Cotter of Adventure Consultants says that in spite of demand, the company felt it would be "irresponsible to run an expedition there."