Latest news with #DepartmentofMountaineering
Euronews
29-05-2025
- Euronews
Nepal marks 72 years since first conquest of Mount Everest summit
Nepal's mountaineering community has celebrated the conquest of the world's highest mountain with a rally of climbers, guides and others who gathered for International Everest Day. The event marked the 72nd anniversary of the first summit climb of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay. Nepal's minister for culture and tourism led the celebration in the capital, Kathmandu, that included a walk around the city and a gathering at the old palace. "We are celebrating May 29 as the international Sagarmatha (Everest) day because the world needs to continue to recognise the achievement and contribution of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay," said Ang Tshering, who runs Kathmandu-based Asian Trekking. The event was not just a celebration for the mountaineering community but also a festival for Nepal and the world, said Tshering, who has helped hundreds of clients scale the Himalayan peaks. Nepal contains eight of the highest peaks in the world and every year hundreds of foreign climbers fly to the country in South Asia to tackle the mountains. The climbers hire thousands of people in Nepal to assist their climbs by carrying gear, cooking food and generally taking care of them as they spend weeks in the mountains. Nepal's government collects money from the climbers through permit fees. The end of May also marks the end of the popular spring mountaineering season, when climbers finish their adventures and retreat from the peaks before the monsoon season brings bad weather. "This day is celebrated also to mark the end of the climbing season where we gather climbers and the community," Jiban Ghimire of Shangri-La Nepal Trek said. According to Nepal's Department of Mountaineering, 468 foreign climbers from 57 countries received permits to climb Everest by the end of May, along with a roughly equal number of Nepalese mountain guides. Many were able to scale the peak, but officials were still working to verify how many reached the 8,849-metre summit. Climbers must report to the department with proof they reached the summit and cleared their rubbish before they are issued the official certificate. Famed Sherpa guide Kami Rita reached the Everest summit for the 31st time on Tuesday, breaking his own record for the most climbs to the top of the world's highest mountain.
29-05-2025
Nepal's mountaineers celebrate 72nd anniversary of Mount Everest conquest
KATHMANDU, Nepal -- Nepal's mountaineering community celebrated the conquest of the world's highest mountain with a rally of climbers, guides and others who gathered for International Everest Day. The event Thursday marked the 72nd anniversary of the first summit climb of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay. Nepal's minister for culture and tourism led the celebration in the capital, Kathmandu, that included a walk around the city and a gathering at the old palace. 'We are celebrating May 29 as the international Sagarmatha (Everest) day because the world needs to continue to recognize the achievement and contribution of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay,' said Ang Tshering, who runs Kathmandu-based Asian Trekking. The event was not just a celebration for the mountaineering community but also a festival for Nepal and the world, said Tshering, who has helped hundreds of clients scale the Himalayan peaks. Nepal contains eight of the highest peaks in the world and every year hundreds of foreign climbers fly to the country in South Asia to tackle the mountains. The climbers hire thousands of people in Nepal to assist their climbs by carrying gear, cooking food and generally taking care of them as they spend weeks in the mountains. Nepal's government collects money from the climbers through permit fees. The end of May also marks the end of the popular spring mountaineering season, when climbers finish their adventures and retreat from the peaks before the monsoon season brings foul weather. "This day is celebrated also to mark the end of the climbing season where we gather climbers and the community," Jiban Ghimire of Shangri-La Nepal Trek said. According to Nepal's Department of Mountaineering, 468 foreign climbers from 57 countries received permits to climb Everest by the end of May, along with a roughly equal number of Nepalese mountain guides. Many were able to scale the peak, but officials were still working to verify how many reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit. Climbers must report to the department with proof they reached the summit and cleared their garbage before they are issued the official certificate. Famed Sherpa guide Kami Rita reached the Everest summit for the 31st time Tuesday, breaking his own record for the most climbs to the top of the famed mountain.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: Hundreds scale Mount Everest in a weather-hit climbing season
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Hundreds of climbers and their Sherpa guides scaled Mount Everest this month in Nepal, struggling against harsh weather to make it to the summit of the world's highest mountain before the climbing season finishes at the end of May. Though several climbers did manage to reach the summit in mid-May, weather conditions deteriorated for days, forcing a retreat to base camp for many, including Kami Rita Sherpa, who was attempting to break his own record by scaling the peak for a 31st time. He did manage to scale the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak on May 27, but several climbers were not so lucky. The route to the summit is equipped with ladders and ropes but these are removed at the end of May, marking an end to the climbing season before the monsoon brings heavy rainfall and bad weather. According to Nepal's Department of Mountaineering, 468 foreign climbers from 57 countries were given permits to climb Everest by the end of May, along with a roughly equal number of Nepalese mountain guides. Because of the limited windows of good weather near the summit, large numbers of climbers lined up, attached to the single safety rope, which is known as the 'Everest traffic jam.' 'Overall on Everest, weather is the key and it was not same as the forecast. And secondly, it was crowded because both professionals and beginners were there at the same time," said Pasang Rinji Sherpa, a guide, adding that because of some of the novice climbers, movement was slow. Pasang Rinji has already climbed the peak twice but was forced to retreat this time because he got sick on the mountain. He said there were many cases of flu and the 'Khumbu cough,' named after a region on Everest, that affects climbers at high altitudes. Some climbers and guides abandoned or postponed their ascent, he said. He said that only selected or qualified climbers should be allowed to climb the peak to make the experience safer and easier. 'Right now there are beginners with no experience or knowledge and professional at the same time and this is causing the problem,' he said. 'There should be basic knowledge for the climbers to use gear properly and be safe while climbing Everest.' Six-time Everest summiteer Jenjen Lama also said the weather was the biggest hurdle this year. 'The weather was very difficult to predict and the forecast would be great for the following day, but on the day the weather would deteriorate every hour or so,' he said. 'Weather was very challenging as it would frequently change without any warning.' Friday marks the 72nd anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
AP PHOTOS: Hundreds scale Mount Everest in a weather-hit climbing season
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Hundreds of climbers and their Sherpa guides scaled Mount Everest this month in Nepal, struggling against harsh weather to make it to the summit of the world's highest mountain before the climbing season finishes at the end of May. Though several climbers did manage to reach the summit in mid-May, weather conditions deteriorated for days, forcing a retreat to base camp for many, including Kami Rita Sherpa, who was attempting to break his own record by scaling the peak for a 31st time. He did manage to scale the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak on May 27, but several climbers were not so lucky. The route to the summit is equipped with ladders and ropes but these are removed at the end of May, marking an end to the climbing season before the monsoon brings heavy rainfall and bad weather. According to Nepal's Department of Mountaineering, 468 foreign climbers from 57 countries were given permits to climb Everest by the end of May, along with a roughly equal number of Nepalese mountain guides. Because of the limited windows of good weather near the summit, large numbers of climbers lined up, attached to the single safety rope, which is known as the 'Everest traffic jam.' 'Overall on Everest, weather is the key and it was not same as the forecast. And secondly, it was crowded because both professionals and beginners were there at the same time,' said Pasang Rinji Sherpa, a guide, adding that because of some of the novice climbers, movement was slow. Pasang Rinji has already climbed the peak twice but was forced to retreat this time because he got sick on the mountain. He said there were many cases of flu and the 'Khumbu cough,' named after a region on Everest, that affects climbers at high altitudes. Some climbers and guides abandoned or postponed their ascent, he said. He said that only selected or qualified climbers should be allowed to climb the peak to make the experience safer and easier. 'Right now there are beginners with no experience or knowledge and professional at the same time and this is causing the problem,' he said. 'There should be basic knowledge for the climbers to use gear properly and be safe while climbing Everest.' Six-time Everest summiteer Jenjen Lama also said the weather was the biggest hurdle this year. 'The weather was very difficult to predict and the forecast would be great for the following day, but on the day the weather would deteriorate every hour or so,' he said. 'Weather was very challenging as it would frequently change without any warning.' Friday marks the 72nd anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.
San Francisco Chronicle
29-05-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
AP PHOTOS: Hundreds scale Mount Everest in a weather-hit climbing season
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Hundreds of climbers and their Sherpa guides scaled Mount Everest this month in Nepal, struggling against harsh weather to make it to the summit of the world's highest mountain before the climbing season finishes at the end of May. Though several climbers did manage to reach the summit in mid-May, weather conditions deteriorated for days, forcing a retreat to base camp for many, including Kami Rita Sherpa, who was attempting to break his own record by scaling the peak for a 31st time. He did manage to scale the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak on May 27, but several climbers were not so lucky. The route to the summit is equipped with ladders and ropes but these are removed at the end of May, marking an end to the climbing season before the monsoon brings heavy rainfall and bad weather. According to Nepal's Department of Mountaineering, 468 foreign climbers from 57 countries were given permits to climb Everest by the end of May, along with a roughly equal number of Nepalese mountain guides. Because of the limited windows of good weather near the summit, large numbers of climbers lined up, attached to the single safety rope, which is known as the 'Everest traffic jam.' 'Overall on Everest, weather is the key and it was not same as the forecast. And secondly, it was crowded because both professionals and beginners were there at the same time," said Pasang Rinji Sherpa, a guide, adding that because of some of the novice climbers, movement was slow. Pasang Rinji has already climbed the peak twice but was forced to retreat this time because he got sick on the mountain. He said there were many cases of flu and the 'Khumbu cough,' named after a region on Everest, that affects climbers at high altitudes. Some climbers and guides abandoned or postponed their ascent, he said. He said that only selected or qualified climbers should be allowed to climb the peak to make the experience safer and easier. 'Right now there are beginners with no experience or knowledge and professional at the same time and this is causing the problem,' he said. 'There should be basic knowledge for the climbers to use gear properly and be safe while climbing Everest.' Six-time Everest summiteer Jenjen Lama also said the weather was the biggest hurdle this year. 'The weather was very difficult to predict and the forecast would be great for the following day, but on the day the weather would deteriorate every hour or so,' he said. 'Weather was very challenging as it would frequently change without any warning.' Friday marks the 72nd anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.
