Latest news with #HimlungHimal
Free Malaysia Today
25-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
63 and still climbing, retired engineer defies limits
Ravichandran Manikam says climbing Island Peak, his first summit above 6,000 metres, was shocking. (Ravichandran Manikam pic) PENANG : Penang boy Ravichandran Manikam Achari is not one to mess with. Every Saturday, he clocks in an eight-kilometre trail run. On Sundays? He's cycling 56km. Weekdays are for gym sessions. And when it comes to mountains, Ravi's tackled more than six major climbs over the past decade – including Nepal's towering Himlung Himal, which stands at a whopping 7,126 metres. Oh, and has it been mentioned that he's 63 years old? 'Compared to 2015, I'm four times fitter, stronger, and healthier now,' he told FMT Lifestyle with a smile. 'These climbs have made me a totally different man. I can do better things now!' Based in Gelugor, the retired engineer only considered mountaineering in 2015, when a friend suggested the activity as a way to blow off steam from his high-stress job. So, Ravi gave it a go. His first climb was along the Mustang trail in Lo Manthang, Tibet, which sits at 3,840 metres. And just like that, he was hooked. ADVERTISEMENT VIDCRUNCH Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Quality Auto Back 360p 240p 144p Auto Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x / Skip Ads by Despite reaching the top of Himlung Himal, Ravi (right) suffered food poisoning due to dirty drinking water. (Ravichandran Manikam pic) 'It was really stressful. I went for that climb with zero training,' he admitted. 'But I fell in love with it immediately after.' Since then, Ravi has taken on Gokyo, Everest Base Camp (which he has climbed three times), The Three Passes (Renjo Lo, Cho La, and Gokyo Ri), Island Peak, and finally, Himlung Himal. Each climb, he said, gave him more than just breathtaking views – it gave him confidence. 'I started to believe in myself,' he said. And that belief has taken him further than he ever imagined. Besides leading a fairly active life, Ravi also ensures his diet is healthy, balanced, and most importantly, home-cooked. 'I only abuse myself during the weekends, where I just go and have some good food which I enjoy, and have some wine or champagne,' he quipped. The climbs are not without danger. During his expedition to Himlung Himal, Ravi battled food poisoning, sub-zero temperatures, and unclean water. 'I was not aware of this at all. Unlike Everest Base Camp where there are rest houses and clean water, here it's totally different,' Ravi recalled. Ravi has climbed the Everest Base Camp three times, getting faster each time. (Ravichandran Manikam pic) And yet, the experience left him deeply moved. 'The people in Nepal are amazing. Sherpas are incredibly disciplined and kind. They have very little, but they share whatever they have. This is the beauty of their culture.' Despite telling himself each time that it would be the last, Ravi always finds himself browsing the internet for the next mountain to climb. 'It's an addiction,' he laughed. 'You tell yourself at night, when you're freezing in a -20°C sleeping bag, with a pee bottle inside the tent and nothing but wind outside – you say never again. But the moment you're back home, the itch begins.' Perhaps what Ravi has gained most is perspective. 'When you're climbing dangerous terrain, you realise very quickly that your money, your company, even the people you love – you might never see them again. Everything you think matters… suddenly doesn't,' he said. 'But after surviving dangerous terrain, after coming back alive and strong … problems at work or in your personal life become manageable.' Without fail, Ravi cycles for nearly 56km every Sunday. (Ravichandran Manikam pic) For those in their 50s, 60s, and beyond who think they're too old to start something new, Ravi offered this piece of advice: 'It's never too late. I wasn't a risk taker. I used to work 18- to 20-hour days. But now, I'm healthier than ever. 'The most important thing is to start with your health. Exercise. Eat right. Discipline yourself. Transformation happens through consistency.' Speaking of discipline, he chuckled at the thought of nasi kandar and sugary drinks. 'When you've run a trail for over an hour, sweating it out, why throw it all away with a carbonated drink? It's not worth it. You defeat the purpose. Only when you continuously tend to be disciplined, does transformation happen.' Indeed, Ravi shows no signs of slowing down. 'Every summit feels like a celebration. After all the suffering and pain, you get this rush of happiness. That's the best present for yourself. All the tiredness will disappear.' So while he might claim to be done for now, don't be surprised if you see his name again – somewhere above 6,000 metres, chasing another summit, another story, another breathless view.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
We Analyze What the Proposed New Everest Law Actually Means
While a snowy spell keeps climbers in Base Camp this week, the Nepal Parliament is considering a new law to regulate the highest mountain on Earth. The so-called Integrated Tourism Bill reached Nepal's upper House of Parliament on April 18. It includes measures aimed to "address the issue of overcrowding, enhance climber safety, and mitigate ecological concerns on Everest," according to an article in The Kathmandu Post. This sort of news is familiar from previous years. Typically, well-meaning or well-sounding laws are proposed to radically alter the business of Everest climbing in the name of safety and the environment. They never get far. Small adjustments that do make it through usually benefit the local expedition operators. For now, the initial proposed law includes what sounds like some potentially strong measures. Let's look at them more closely: 1. Everest climbers must have previous experience at 7,000m Many accidents have shown that previous experience at 7,000m or 8,000m does not prove a climber is skilled or self-sufficient enough to make his or her own decisions. It only ensures these climbers will buy their way onto another expedition before Everest. Because here's the rub: The law requires that the "preparatory" 7,000m peak must be in Nepal. Mountains like Denali, Aconcagua, or even Ama Dablam (which is slightly less than 7,000m) are not considered suitable preparation. It is little wonder that local operators approve of this idea. They are already planning to enlarge their offerings for fully supported expeditions on Nepal's 7,000m peaks. There are seventy-two 7,000'ers open for climbing in Nepal, not counting the secondary summits of 8,000m peaks. They range from the extremely difficult, like Jannu, to the relatively straightforward, like Himlung Himal and Baruntse. The proposal does not mention the climbing style, use of oxygen, or support. 2. All guides must be Nepalese citizens The new proposal mandates that the guides accompanying the climbers must be Nepali citizens. Theoretically, that eliminates international mountain guides. But nothing prevents a foreign guide from climbing with a private client, as long as both have Nepali guides with them. This is already the usual strategy on expeditions. It is unclear how the law will identify a "guide" among Nepalese workers with vastly different experience at altitude. 3. Mandatory health checks and declaring record quests The law establishes that all Everest climbers must have a medical certificate proving they are in good health. Almost everyone already does this voluntarily. Many international outfitters insist on such precautions from potential clients. However, the certificate mentioned in the law must come from a "government-approved" medical institution, meaning it must be obtained in Nepal. Climbers must also declare if they are pursuing any kind of mountaineering record. There is already a record-oriented market well-publicized by the outfitters (and by the climbers who attempt them). The law suggests that if force majeure -- war, disaster, etc. -- disrupts their climb, they won't get a refund, but they will receive a permit valid for two years or a discounted fee for another peak. 4. New routes approved by Liaison Officer There is an interesting note about climbers aiming for new routes on Everest, if anyone is still interested. First, they must receive permission from the Department of Tourism in advance. Second, they must stick to their planned line once on the new route. "In emergencies, climbers can reroute, but only with the approval of a government liaison officer," it says. This refers to an expedition's official liaison officer (LO), a sinecure position that The Kathmandu Post calls "a form of institutional bribery." These LOs are rarely in Base Camp. "It is hard to picture a climber opening a new route on Everest who gets into an emergency situation and waits for a green light from a LO," the article points out. The proposed law contains a few other points related to garbage disposal, retrieving dead climbers, and other costs. The proposal is noticeably silent on any limitations to the number of climbing permits or restrictions on how many people can climb the mountain at the same time. According to the latest update from Nepal's Department of Tourism, there are 374 permits granted for Everest until April 21. However, The Kathmandu Post had access to the unpublished list that covers up to April 26. Just five days later, the tally had risen from 374 to 402. Local operators expect a record year, with up to 500 foreign climbers, plus an even higher number of local staff assisting them. In the end, the question is whether the proposed new rules are meant to improve safety and prevent pollution or to further squeeze the country's golden goose. This draft proposal has a long way to go. It has to be debated, modified, and then pass through the two chambers of Nepal's parliament. Officials at the Ministry of Tourism told The Kathmandu Post that changes are likely before the final law is enacted. After that, there is usually at least one year before the law is implemented to allow the market to adjust. Here is a PDF of the proposed bill in Nepali.
