KATHMANDU, Jan 25: A team of 10 Nepali mountaineers is set to head to the Everest region to ascend Mt Cho oyu in winter and introduce a commercial route to its summit from the Nepal side. 

The expedition members for the project include Gelje Sherpa, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, Karma Sherpa, Pam Dorjee Sherpa, Gesman Tamang, Tashi Sherpa, Tenging Sherpa, Phuri Sherpa, Pem Tenzi Sherpa and Bibas Sherpa along with basecamp staff comprising Chandra Bahadur Tamang, Niradwaj Tamang, Pemba Sherpa and project manager of the expedition Ashok Rai. 

Mt Cho oyu, the 6th highest mountain, has not seen a single permit issued for a commercial expedition after 2009. The team has set out to make a commercial route to its summit from the Nepal side, which is said to benefit the country as well as the world of mountaineering. 

The team of 10 climbers left for Lukla today, while three kitchen staff for the expedition have already gone there to prepare for the expedition. The expedition is funded by the famous Nirmal Purja, Mingma David Sherpa, among other donors. 

“If you have seen my film, you know the hardest part of the whole 14 Peaks project was getting the funding – I have often said that the climbing was the easy part,” Nirmal Purja shared through Facebook.

“Sadly the truth is that the Cho oyu winter team were due to start the challenge, but not enough sponsors had come forward to fund even half of the project – so I am proud to say that I have personally stepped in as title sponsor to fund the project. I hope this story will inspire people and potential corporate partners to look into these incredible projects and help them out now and in the future. It’s all in our power to change the lives of our brothers and sisters – every small donation makes a big difference,” he said. 

Purja holds the record of summiting all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in just seven months and knows the hardship faced by Nepali mountaineers inside out.

Mt Cho oyu (8,188 meters) is the sixth tallest mountain in the world and the second most summited eight thousander after Mt Everest.

 
• Mountaineering
 
• Mt_Cho_Oyu
 
• Nepal