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Youngest and the oldest climbers

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According to Gyanendra Shrestha, a DoT official, 17-year-old Matt Moniz, from Colorado, US, and Australian mountaineer Azer Alyssa Nicole, 19, are the youngest male and female climbers heading towards Mt Everest. Nepali climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, 83, and Japanese female mountaineer Eiko Funahashi, 76, are also heading towards Khumbu region to attempt to scale the highest peak. DoT has so far permitted 102 expeditions, including 42 for Mt Everest, generating royalty worth more than US$ 3.5 million.

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Source: Thehimalayantimes

Mt. Everest gets ready for climbing season with new, safer route

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Preparations are underway for the upcoming mountaineering season at Mt. Everest, including plans for a new, more difficult but safer route to the summit, while 288 climbers have already registered to take on the peak.

The arrangements are in part due to an avalanche last year that killed 16 sherpas, consequently canceling the remainder of the season’s climbing activity on the world’s highest peak.

The Nepal Tourism Board announced on Monday that the first climbers had already reached the base camp, at an altitude of about 5,000 meters (about 16,400 feet) above sea level.

Over the coming days, 31 registered groups will begin the first ascent of the season, while the numbers are expected to rise.

“We hope that the number of mountaineers increases as last year climbers had to abandon their plans to climb Everest and return,” tourism board official Gyanendra Shrestha told Efe, adding that the number of expeditions could go up to 41.

Climbers who had paid for their permits, with a price tag of about 10,000 euros ($11,000), to climb the mountain in 2014, but were made to cancel their plans, have been allowed by the Nepalese government to use the same permit by 2019.

everest base camp

Authorities have been preparing the new route since following what was the most tragic accident on Mt. Everest last year, circumventing the Khumbu Icefall where the avalanche occurred, according to the Nepalese press.

The government has also increased the number of medical personnel stationed on the mountain and set up a permanent office in the base camp to improve security and coordination.

Approximately 4,500 mountaineers have reached the summit of Mt. Everest since it was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Percival Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on March 29, 1953.

Source: laprensasa

Spring climbing kick-starts in style

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With the start of the year’s spring climbing season, Mt Everest is all set to draw over 300 climbers. Officials confirmed that most of the mountaineers have already reached Khumbu region for acclimatisation. According to Gyanendra Shrestha, an official at the Department of Tourism, 287 foreign climbers representing 30 different expedition obtained Everest climbing permits till yesterday. The expeditions, except David Breashears’ single-member team from the US, represent teams comprising four to 14 members, he said.

“Hordes of climbers will be spending nearly two months scaling different peaks, including Mt Everest,” Ang Tashi Sherpa from Lukla told THT.

Though, a very few of the 325 Everest climbers who abandoned their expeditions last year have been able to reutilise their old permits this year due to delay caused by government indecisiveness, there will be more groups applying for climbing permit. “DoT expects more than 300 foreign climbers on Everest.” Trekking Camp Nepal informed that visually-impaired South Korean climber Song Kyung-tae, 54, has joined an expedition to the summit of Mount Everest to inspire the handicapped and the youth.

Double amputee Xia Boyu, 64, from China is also attempting to scale the world’s highest peak; while Nepali climber Lila Bahadur Basnet said he was in a bid to summit Mt Everest in 10 days. “Basnet is one of the climbers of a 13-member British Gurkha team.

US Marine veteran Staff Sergeant Charlie Linville, 29, who lost a leg in an IED attack in Afghanistan is also attempting to plant a flag bearing the names of those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to operators.

Spanish mountaineer Kilian Jornet is attempting to set a speed record without using supplemental oxygen, while Kenton Cool, Rupert Jones-Warner and Ralf Dujmovits will attempt to create new records on Everest.

An Indian Army team led by Major Ranveer Singh Jamwal, who has scaled Everest twice, is attempting to scale the peak to mark the 50th anniversary of India’s first ascent of the world’s highest peak. Two teams of the Indian Army — 14 members for Mt Everest and nine for Mt Lhotse — have obtained climbing permits. They are also bringing 4,000 kg garbage back from the top as part of their sanitation drive.

everest_2008_1296

According to operators, female climber Chhurim Sherpa is all set to carry Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes’ bat and jersey to the top of Mt Everest, while Phurba Sherpa is climbing the peak with flags of 193 countries. He is on a world peace mission.

“Climbers are attempting numerous Nepali peaks including Mt Everest in style,” Alan Arnette, renowned climber and mountain blogger told this daily before leaving for Lukla in an attempt on Mt Lhotse, the world’s fourth highest peak.

Everest base Camp Manager Tshering Sherpa of Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee informed that icefall doctors have already constructed a new route up to Camp 1.

The Department of Tourism has also established a contact office and deputed two officials at the base camp.

Generally, Mt Everest records its first spring summit in the second week of May and the climbing window closes roughly by the end of the first week of June.

Source : thehimalayantimes

First IMAX filmmaker at Everest base camp

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First IMAX filmmaker at Everest base camp

An accomplished filmmaker yesterday reached Mt Everest Base Camp to support icefall doctors in preparing the safest route to the world’s highest mountain.

everest_base_camp

According to Ang Dorjee Sherpa, Chairman, Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, American explorer David Breashears, arrived in Nepal on Friday.

SPCC has been assigned by the government to fix ladders and ropes in the treacherous icefall and manage the garbage deposited by climbers.

David Breashears

David Breashears

His research-based analysis of the mountain’s topography, weather patterns and impact of climate change will help construct a safe route.
Breashears, who has received four Emmy awards for achievement in cinematography, has also been providing icefall doctors technical support, he added.Breashears will also utilise the high-definition images of the icefall route, including a few images he captured last year when the deadliest avalanche struck the climbing route near Camp I, killing 16 mountaineering support staff and guides, said Sherpa, adding that his expertise would help fix the new route.

According to Ang Kami Sherpa, who leads a team of eight icefall doctors, heavy but unusual snowfall has been affecting their work. The team has planned to complete a route that passes from the middle of the icefall section in the next 10 to 12 days, he added. “Two-third section of the route has been constructed, but Breashears’ facilitation will be important to complete the remaining part of the treacherous route,” he added.

Breashears, who has scaled Everest five times, had transmitted the first live television pictures from the top of Mt Everest in 1983. He also became the first American to scale Mt Everest twice in 1985.

Breashears also co-directed and co-produced the first IMAX film shot on Mount Everest in 1996. Breashears’ best-selling memoir, High Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places (Simon and Schuster), documents his life as a mountaineer and filmmaker.

Spring climbing season is on

  • Department of Tourism says more than 40 foreign teams likely to apply for permit to scale Everest
  • A 30-member Indian army team, a team of 15 British Gurkhas and Arunachalee Everester Anshu Jamsenpa, the only mother who scaled Everest twice in ten days in 2011, will also attempt to scale the world’s highest mountain this season
  • National Geographic adventurer Matt Moniz, 17, and Willie Benegas aim to summit Everest and attempt to ski the Lhotse Coulair, which has never been fully skied
  • Spanish mountaineer Kilian Jornet is attempting to set a speed record on Everest without using supplemental oxygen, while Kenton Cool, Rupert Jones-Warner and Ralf Dujmovits will attempt to create new records on Everest

Source: thehimalayantimes

Individual Everest permits also extended for 5 years

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The government has made amendment to Mountaineering Regulations, allowing mountaineers, who took individual permits to climb Mt Everest in spring last year, to use the permit over the next five years.

Earlier, the government had extended validity of only group permits. But the decision had draw flak from mountaineers who said it was not possible for all members in the team to gather at the same time for the expedition. Minister of General Administration Lal Babu Pandit said that the cabinet has decided to allow individual climbers to use their climbing permits over the next five years.

everest_2008_1296

A total of 334 climbers of 32 expedition teams, including a Nepali team, had received permits to climb Mt Everest last year. The climbers, however, are required to pay US$ 1,000 to the Department of Tourism (DoT) based on the new royalty structure. The government reduced royalty fee for foreigners climbing Mt Everest from normal route, also known as the South East Ridge, to $11,000 per person from $25,000 per person with effect from January1, 2015.

All expedition teams called off their expedition after a deadly avalanche near Camp II of Mt Everest killed 16 Sherpa guides in April last year. “With the amendment in Mountaineering Regulations, we are hopeful that the number of mountaineers on Mt Everest will increase this year. We will see new climbers as well as those who had cancelled their trip last year,” Pushpa Raj Katuwal, chief of Mountaineering Section at DoT, told Republica.

According to Katuwal, the government has issued climbing permits to five teams so far. Meanwhile, DoT will send two liaison officers who will man the government’s contact office at the Everest Base Camp for the entire climbing season. The government has already prepared Terms of Reference (ToR) for the liaison officers.

“With this arrangement, we believe climbers will feel much safer. Also, they can get the required information in time,” he added. The liaison officers will provide weather updates, coordinate rescue operations in case of emergencies and settle disputes arising among climbing parties.

The government has changed climbing route slightly this year to avoid the where avalanche hit mountaineering workers last year. According to the department, climbers will have to deviate around 40 meters right of the regular trail which will extend the trip to Camp I by around two hours.

“In case the government reduces climbing permit fee in the next five years, we will refund the climbers accordingly,” Tulsi Prasad Gautam, director general of DoT, said.

Source: Republica

Sagarmatha National Park’s entry fee Increased

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The Sagarmatha National Park entry fee has been increased by 13%  effective from Monday, 16th March 2015. According to the office of Sagarmatha National Park at Jorosalle, the increment was done based on the Financial law of Nepal 2071. Although the new rate was  restructured  from 1st March,  the new  increment  has been implemented  only from 15th March in the Khumbu area.

Everest-KalaPatthar

With the increment, the entry fee for visitors from SAARC countries  will be  Rs.1615 whereas the visitors from the third country need to pay  Rs. 3390 and for Helicopter landing , it will charge Rs. 2260 . However,  the entry fee for porter will remain the same. According to the office, the entry fee for porters was increased last year only.