“Nepal has cleared more than 300 mountaineers to climb Mount Everest after they had to abandon last year's efforts when an ice avalanche killed 16 guides in the mountain's deadliest disaster, an official said Friday. The government will extend last year's permits without charging new fees, according to the head of Nepal's tourism department, Tulasi Gautam. The extended permits can be used at any time through 2019, eliminating worries that the climbers would be unable to agree with their original trekking groups on a single time period to return. The climbers can join any group, he said, or they can opt to pay extra to attempt the summit individually as the fees for group climbing and solo climbing are different. The three-month climbing season for Everest, the world's tallest mountain, begins in March. Nepal also pledged recently to improve weather forecasting, security and rescue efforts, and has cut climbing fees this year to $11,000 per climber from $25,000. Last year, a sudden fall of ice struck a group of Sherpa guides hauling gear near base camp, killing 16 Sherpas in the worst single disaster on Everest”. – The Associated Press

In this Saturday, March 21, 2015 photo, a trekker rests after reaching Everest Base camp, Nepal. Nepal has cleared more than 300 mountaineers to climb Mount Everest after they had to abandon last year's efforts when an ice avalanche killed 16 guides in the mountain's deadliest disaster, an official said on March 20. The three-month climbing season for Everest, the world's tallest mountain, begins in March. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Wednesday, March 18, 2015 photo, trekkers take an acclimatization hike to Nagarzhang peak above Dingboche valley on the way to Everest base camp, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Sunday, March 22, 2015 photo, a porter carries wooden planks to build a tea house in Lobuche, one of the last overnight stops with lodging on the way to the Everest base camp, Nepal. The three-month climbing season for Everest, the world's tallest mountain, begins in March. Last year, a sudden fall of ice struck a group of Sherpa guides hauling gear near base camp, killing 16 Sherpas in the worst single disaster on Everest. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 21, 2015 photo, a caravan of yaks return after dropping off supplies for the upcoming climbing season at the Everest Base camp, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Wednesday, March 4, 2015 photo, a porter looks for cell phone signal on the way to deliver a load to Everest base camp near Kyangjuma, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015 photo, children play football in Phakding, one of the main resting point for Everest trekkers, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 21, 2015 photo, a porter rests carrying supplies for the upcoming climbing season, near the Everest Base camp, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Tuesday, March 24, 2015, porters with supplies for trekkers head towards Namche, in Zamphute, a village inhabited by mainly Sherpas, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Monday, March 23, 2015 photo, porters carry loads of plastic bottles towards a mineral water factory at Pangboche, a village inhabited by mainly Sherpas, in Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 21, 2015 photo, a local sherpa woman walks walks beside her yak carrying supplies for the upcoming climbing season, near Everest Base camp, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 21, 2015 photo, a caravan of yaks return after dropping off supplies for the upcoming climbing season at the Everest Base camp, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 photo, a local man stands in front of Tengboche monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Sherpa community, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

Yaks move towards Mount Everest's base camp ferrying supplies as the three-month climbing for the world's tallest mountain begins in March, near Gorakshep, Nepal, Saturday, March 21, 2015. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)

In this Saturday, March 21, 2015 photo, trekkers walk towards Everest Base camp, Nepal. (Photo by Tashi Sherpa/AP Photo)