China just sprung a huge surprise on the mountaineering expeditions from around the world set to climb Mount Everest during this spring’s climbing season.

It just shut the mountain down until May 10. No mountaineers are welcome till then, which is virtually too late to make a real attempt on the world’s highest mountain.

The notice came from the Tibet Mountaineering Association, which governs activities on the Tibet side of Mt. Everest, which sits on the border of Tibet and Nepal.

According to the website mounteverest.net, the fiat will probably inconvenience about 1,000 mountaineers in dozens of expeditions, many of which are already en route to Tibet and have money down on porters, yak caravans, hotels and vehicles.

Presumably, the decision is so that Chinese torch bearers can take the Olympic torch up the mountain without disturbance sometime in the next two months.

The notice cites “concern of heavy climbing activities, crowded climbing routes and increasing environmental pressures” for the delay but doesn’t directly mention the Olympic torch.