Nepal: The Return of Democracy and Other News!

MountEverest.net is reporting that the King of Nepal has addressed his nation, and has returned the country to a democracy. King Gyanendra has asked the seven party government to name a Prime Minister as soon as possible to complete the formal turn over of power. Hopefully this means a return to stability and safety in the mountain kingdom, making it an easier place to travel for all the climbers in the region.

In other new, the same site is reporting that three sherpas have died, and at least four others were injured, while traveling through the famed Khumbu icefall. This comes after reports that the dry weather had made the icefall as safe as it has been in years, but a massive serac collapse has changed all that. It's still early in the season, and Everest has already claimed a number of lives. Technically, the icefall is just outside of Base Camp and not even really part of the mountain proper. Stories like this one, underscore the fact that the mountain is still a very dangerous place.

Update: The Great Outdoors has also posted info on the deaths in the Khumbu icefall, including insights from Dave Hahn, who is onsite at Everest Base Camp.