Autumn in the Nepal Himalayas is practically one of the most favorable seasons for trekking and mountaineering, particularly on many 7,000m and 6,000m peaks, as well as Mount Manaslu (8,163m). However, autumn 2026 has been challenging and unpredictable. Sudden changes in weather associated with a cyclone over the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal disrupted many climbing programs in the early autumn.
We had to call off our Manaslu Expedition to ensure the safety of our climbing members. Excessive snowfall and the dangers posed by accumulated fresh snow raised serious concerns about mountain safety. The difficult weather conditions also had devastating consequences in the Himlung Himal region, where, on September 27, an avalanche struck the Himlung Base Camp area, burying more than fifteen Nepali expedition workers who were preparing facilities for the climbing season.
After the first week of October, weather conditions gradually began to improve in the Himalayas, offering renewed hope to expedition teams committed to their climbing programs. At Satori Adventures, our approach remains clear: safety comes before summit success. A successful expedition is not measured solely by reaching the highest point, but also by the quality of preparation, sound judgement, teamwork, and the safe return of everyone involved.
Therefore, Satori Adventures continued to monitor the situation closely and prepared the expedition infrastructure as weather conditions improved and forecasts began to show more favorable signs.
We welcomed our Ama Dablam expedition members on different dates between September 27 and October 14. Most of the climbers who arrived earlier embarked on trekking in the Everest region with a climb of smaller peaks as part of their acclimatization activities.
Many members of the Ama Dablam expedition have now reached Base Camp. On October 22, our expedition members and Sherpa staff performed a special Pooja ceremony at the Base Camp.
For climbers and mountaineers arriving from different parts of the world, a mountain may represent a summit to climb or conquer, a dream to fulfil, an adventure to experience, a personal achievement, or an opportunity to set new records. However, for the Nepali people, particularly the Sherpa community, the mountains also represent their livelihood, cultural heritage, faith, and identity.
For the Sherpa people and Nepalis, the mountains are not merely geographical heights but sacred lands deeply connected with faith and culture. The Sherpa people regard these peaks as sacred places where their protective deities and ancestors reside.
According to the scriptures, legends, and traditional beliefs followed by Nepali Hindus, the Himalayas are regarded as the sacred abode of gods and goddesses and a place where sages and saints have devoted themselves to meditation and spiritual practice. The association of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with the Himalayan mountains, along with revered pilgrimage destinations such as Muktinath, Damodar Kunda, Mount Kailash, and Lake Manasarovar, reflects the profound spiritual importance of the Himalayas in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Based on this faith, before climbing the mountain peaks and carrying out any other activities, our ancestors initiated the tradition of performing a Puja/Pooja ceremony, begging for forgiveness and receiving blessings for safe ascent and descent.
For us, this is not a routine and a mere religious ritual; rather, it is a reflection of our humility and respect towards the mountains and Mother Nature, and a sincere act of giving up all our ego before a power greater than ourselves.
Monks from a nearby monastery led the ceremony in which our Sherpa crews and foreign climbers jointly followed the instructions, begged pardon in front of the giant Ama Dablam, get their climbing gears blessed, burned juniper incense, and offered meals and drinks to the mountain spirits. This Puja performed offers an opportunity to ask permission from the mountain, express respect towards the deities, and pray for the safe journey of all the climbers and supporting team members.
We, at Satori Adventures, pray together – may all the climbers and Sherpa guides be given strength, may the weather be favorable, may the climbing route remain safe, may there be no unforeseen incidents, and may everyone achieve their dreams and return home safely.
And, Our ego cannot be greater than these Himalayan giants and nature. Moving forward with faith, discipline, respect, and safety is the true identity of our mountaineering culture and spirit. We wish a safe and successful ascent to all the climbers, and Sherpa team members participating in the Ama Dablam expedition this autumn 2026.
May the blessings of the mountain deities remain with you, and may everyone return home safely after the successful Ama Dablam summit!
