Nepal's 'hidden' mountains draw new wave of climbers

French mountaineers Benjamin Vedrines and Nicolas Jean make their way to the summit of Jannu East in Nepal. - AFP

KATHMANDU: Nepal's mountains including Everest have long drawn climbers from across the world, but a growing community is exploring hidden summits promising solitude and the chance to be first to the top.

The Himalayan nation is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of climbers every year, making mountaineering a lucrative business.