Nepal Reopens Mount Everest Months After Fatal Avalanche

Mount Everest is back in business. Nepal reopened the peaks to climbers months after an earthquake caused an avalanche that killed 19 in April, the Associated Press reported.

The wider death toll of the quake was at least 9,000. Nepal has since worked to open up Everest again, a major attraction and a key pillar of the country's tourism industry.

Nobukazu Kuriki of Japan received his permit to climb Sunday and set off Tuesday. He has attempted the climb four times previously, losing several fingers to frostbite.

The AP reported autumn is considered a difficult time to attempt climbing Everest

During the fatal earthquake in April, as many as 300 climbers, and even more Sherpas, were on the mountain, the Guardian reported. The landslide began on Mount Kumori, a nearly 23,000 foot-tall mountain near Everest, before reaching the expedition groups gathered at the base of Everest.

The injured were flown by helicopter for medical attention to a nearby hospital, but persistent bad weather made even that a challenge.

For his part, Kuriki sounded undeterred Sunday.

"The main purpose of my climb is to spread the message that Nepal was safe for climbers and trekkers even after the earthquake," Kuriki said, according to AP.