On Sunday, Nepal’s tourism ministry granted a Mount Everest climbing permit to Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki, according to the AP. Kuriki will be the first climber to attempt to summit Everest since the earthquake that killed almost 9,000 people in April.
“The main purpose of my climb is to spread the message that Nepal was safe for climbers and trekkers even after the earthquake,” Kuriki told the AP.
Kuriki has made four attempts to summit Everest before, all of which were unsuccessful. He lost nine fingers to frostbite in 2012. The Japanese climber plans to reach the mountain on Tuesday and summit in mid-September.