Urgency mounts in search for survivors of powerful Tibet earthquake
Beijing, China Reuters More than 400 people trapped by rubble in earthquake-stricken Tibet have been rescued, Chinese officials said on Wednesday, with an unknown number still unaccounted for in freezing weather a day after a strong tremor rocked the Himalayan foothills. The epicentre of Tuesday’s magnitude 6.8 quake, one of the region’s most powerful tremors […]
Nepal’s mountains have lost one-third of their ice, UN chief says
Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters Nepal’s snow-capped mountains have lost close to one-third of their ice in over 30 years due to global warming, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday after a visit to the area near Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. Climate scientists say the earth’s temperature has increased by an average of 0.74 […]
Nepali sherpa saves Malaysian climber in rare Everest ‘death zone’ rescue
Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters A Malaysian climber narrowly survived after a Nepali sherpa guide hauled him down from below the summit of Mount Everest in a “very rare” high altitude rescue, a government official said on Wednesday. Ngima Tashi Sherpa walks as he carries a Malaysian climber while rescuing him from the death zone above camp […]
From highs to lows, Everest record breaker sees ‘no future’ in Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters Kami Rita Sherpa had stood at the top of world just days earlier, exultant at having summited Mount Everest for a record 28th time. Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, a Nepali Mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest for a record 28 times, poses for a picture at his rented apartment in Kathmandu, Nepal, on […]
Essay: 70 years after the first ascent of Everest, the impact of mass mountaineering must be confronted
YANA WENGE, Dr ADELE DORAN and MICHAL APOLLO, in an artike first published on The Conversation, warn of the dangers the increasing numbers of those looking to climb the world’s highest peaks bring with them…
Nepali sherpa scales Everest for 28th time as toll on peak reaches 11
Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters A Nepali sherpa reached the summit of Mount Everest for a record 28th time on Tuesday, an official said, completing his second ascent in just a week, as the toll in this year’s climbing season reached 11. Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, reached the 8,849-metre summit by the traditional southeast ridge route, said […]
Britain’s record holding climber says Everest is “dry, more rocky”
Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters Mount Everest is losing snow and turning “dry and rocky”, British climber Kenton Cool, who made his 17th ascent of the world’s highest peak this week, the most by a foreigner, said on Saturday. The 49-year-old Cool, who climbed the 8,849-metre peak for the first time in 2004, said the giant mountain […]
No work and little savings, Nepal’s Sherpa widows face uphill battle
Kathmandu, Nepal Thomson Reuters Foundation After conquering Mount Everest and shattering taboos, two Nepali Sherpa widows face a new challenge – the coronavirus pandemic which has shut down all climbing and trekking activities, leaving them without jobs. Nima Doma Sherpa and Furdiki Sherpa made global headlines when they scaled the 8,850 metre mountain last year […]
Climbers must be trained to tackle Everest, panel says after deaths
Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters Nepal must make training and experience in high altitude climbing mandatory for all climbers on Mount Everest and other high peaks, a government panel said on Wednesday, following the deadliest climbing season in four years. Eleven climbers were killed or went missing on the 8,850 metre mountain in May – nine on […]
Essay: Trekking in the “roof of the world” to raise funds for the Leprosy Mission
Melburnian DAVID DUNCAN was one of 10 people from around Australia who trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp and nearby Island Peak in Nepal to raise funds for The Leprosy Mission. Here David shares his thoughts on a journey which stirred heart-felt emotions about his own spiritual and family life…