KATHMANDU, June 3: Since Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal successfully climbed the world’s highest peak Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, thousands of ascenders have followed in their footsteps.

Even though it has been 71 years marking the first successful ascent of Mount Everest, its ascent history is a hundred years long. In 1921, a British team including George Mallory and Guy Bullock initiated the first journey of mountaineering expedition.

Every mountaineer aspires to summit the world’s highest Mount Everest. Therefore, every spring season, hundreds of mountaineers from all over the world arrive to ascend Mount Everest after getting permission from the Department of Tourism (DoT). After a year of financial, physical and mental preparation, the mountaineer set out to ascend Mount Everest.

The construction of the climbing route from Everest Base Camp (EBC) to the climbing route was completed on May 28 for the spring season of this year. After the completion of the construction of the route, it was opened for domestic and foreign climbers and their workers, helpers and guides, who had obtained permits from the DoT.

Similarly, the DoT has established a field camp at EBC to monitor and facilitate mountaineers. This season, the DoT established its own field office at EBC by forming a Mountaineering Monitoring and Facilitation Committee. The field office was established at EBC under the leadership of Khim Lal Gautam Khumbu, member secretary, and chief survey officer of the Mountaineering Monitoring and Facilitation Committee. The team of the field department has returned to Kathmandu after the end of the season.   

 Over 600 ascended Mount Everest 

The spring season is considered the most favorable time for ascending Mount Everest. During this time, most mountaineers ascend Mount Everest. Similarly, the DoT recommended different royalty fees according to the mountains.

According to the preliminary statistics of the DoT, during this season more than 600 mountaineers from various climbing teams and climbing guides have ascended Mount Everest. Rakesh Gurung, director of the Adventure Tourism and Mountaineering Branch at the DoT said that the statistics could vary.

“According to the preliminary statistics of the DoT, over 600 mountaineers have ascended Mount Everest,” he said, “The number of mountaineers is nearly the same for this season, but it could vary later on.” All the mountaineers and climbing companies of this season have already returned from the Everest region, he added.

 Rs 689.97 million collected in revenue

During the spring season, the DoT gave climbing permits for 30 mountains. A total of 1,000 climbing permits were issued. Of the climbers, 792 were males and 210 females. Whereas, a total of 412 mountaineers from various countries were issued climbing permits by the DoT. The government collected Rs 689.87 million in revenue from them.

Currently, the government has opened a total of 405 mountains. Out of these mountains, only mountain climbing permits have been issued for climbing 27 mountains by the Nepal Mountaineering Association and other departments. 

Five mountaineers die, three missing

The prestige, honor, and fame surrounding Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, make its ascent equally challenging. The narratives of Mount Everest, its name, value, respect, and legends, are not merely painted with colors of glory; they also carry the weight of sorrow. The pain of lives lost during ascent and the anguish felt by their families and loved ones never fade away.

Not all ascenders who attempt to summit Mount Everest are successful. Various factors lead to the death of climbers and guides while ascending Mount Everest. Meanwhile, five mountaineers have died and three have gone missing during this climbing season. One climber died at the third camp while ascending Mount Lhotse.

The DoT said that, among the mountaineers who died during ascent, three mountaineers were Nepali while the remaining five were foreigners. The DoT said that the deceased Nepali mountaineers were identified as Pash Tenji Sherpa, 23, of Sankhuwasabha, Dwang Sherpa, 44, of Sankhuwasabha and Binod Babu Bastakoti of Kaski.

The DoT said that among the three deceased, Pash Tenju Sherpa and Binod Babu Bastakoti successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest but it is not certain whether Dwang reached the summit. Likewise, the DoT said that Pash Tenji Sherpa was missing from the Hillary Step to Kangshung Face and Dwang went missing in the summit whereas the whereabouts of both ascenders remain unknown.  

Similarly,two climbers from Mongolia and one climber each from Britain, Romania, Kenya and India died while ascending. The DoT said that two mountaineers died on the south summit of Mount Everest on May 13. Similarly, according to the DoT, it is uncertain whether both those mountaineers reached the summit of Mount Everest.

Likewise, the DoT said that Daniel Paul, 40, of the UK successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest but went missing from the Hillary Step to Kangshung Face along with Pash Tenji Sherpa.

The DoT said that Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 40, of Kenya and Bansi Lal, 47, of India did not reach the summit of Mount Everest. Additionally, Gabriel Viorel Tabara, 46, of Romania passed away while ascending Mount Lhotse. He also did not reach the summit of Mount Lhotse, DoT added. 

Three climbers set world records 

Many mountaineers have set world records, whether by ascending Mount Everest multiple times, summiting at a young age, climbing without oxygen, or reaching the summit in record time. The achievements of numerous climbers have been remarkable, and this trend continues today.

During this spring season, over 600 mountaineers from around the world ascended Mount Everest. Among the three Nepali ascenders, Kami Rita Sherpa of Thame, Purnima Shrestha of Gorkha and Punjho Jhangmu Lama set world records.  

Kami Rita Sherpa successfully achieved the rare climbing record by reaching the summit for the 30th time.

Purnima Shrestha, a photojournalist, has set a world record by ascending Mount Everest for three times in a single season. Along with this, she is the first woman to ascend Mount Everest three times in a season.

Punjho Jhangmu Lama of Gorkha has set a world record this season by ascending Mount Everest in the shortest time. Lama reached the summit of Mount Everest from the EBC in 13 hours and 31 minutes, setting a new record for the fastest ascent. 

 
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