Indian army colonel vows to give Everest attempt another shot

Published On: June 2, 2017 09:00 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, June 2: Colonel Vishal Dubey of Indian Armed Forces, who fell 300 meters short of his target of climbing Mt Everest without the use of bottled oxygen, has vowed to come back and finish the unfinished business next year.

Dubey, the leader of Snow Lion Everest Expedition 2017, reached 8,500 meters without using supplementary oxygen. But he failed to reach to the business end by mere 300 meters. 

Talking to Republica in Kathmandu on Friday evening, Dubey said he was definitely coming back next year. “We organized this expedition with an aim of stepping on the top of the world without the help of supplementary oxygen. But out of eight climbers, four managed to reach the summit without using bottled oxygen. Three others reached the summit using supplementary oxygen,” he said, adding: “I could have reached the summit using bottled oxygen. But I returned back with a strong commitment and desire to set foot on the world's tallest peak next year.”

Kunchok Tenda, Kelshang Dorjee Bhutia, Kalden Panjur and Sonam Phuntsok reached the Everest summit without using supplementary oxygen. Three members of the team -- Urgyen Topgye, Ngwang Gelek and Karma Zopa - successfully climbed Mt Everest using supplementary oxygen.

The expedition was handled by Himalaya Expeditions Pvt Ltd.


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