Climbers attempting to ascend Everest by the popular South Col route from Nepal will follow a new path to avoid a repeat of last year’s avalanche, which killed 16 Nepali guides.

The new route, set by local authorities and Sagarmatha Polution Controller Committee (SPCC), will deviate from that followed since the first ascent of the highest mountain in the world in 1953 and pass through the centre of the mountain’s infamous Khumbu icefall, rather than follow its left side, where the recent tragedy occurred. Tulasi Prasad Gautam, director of the Nepali government’s Department of Tourism, said that the new route would be closer to the centre of the icefall, where the avalanche risk is deemed to be considerably less.

In response to the last year’s avalanche Nepal government is trying to make Everest climbing a little safer by avoiding the old route. The fatal avalanche last year led to a boycott by Sherpa climbers and the cancellation of all expeditions on Everest. The vast majority of climbers over the decades and today have stuck to the original route pioneered by Sir Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing 60 years ago. The new route will safer for all climbers, especially guides and porters, to danger from snow and ice slides.