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Super Sherpa's 21st tryst with top of the world

Posted by: BIKASH SANGRAULA | Date: May 12, 2011

BIKASH SANGRAULA
KATHMANDU, May 12: Apa Sherpa stood on top of the world Wednesday morning in what was his 21st date with the spot where every climber dreams to stand at least once in life.

In doing so, Apa, 51, set a new world record for the most summits of the world´s tallest mountain breaking the one set by himself, something he has done over and over again for half-a-decade now.

“At 09:15 this morning, Eco Everest Expedition climbing leader Apa Sherpa and members Chris Shumate, 49, of USA, Bruno Gremior, 39, of Switzerland, together with four high altitude climbing Sherpas, stood on the top of Mt Everest,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa, chairman of Asian Trekking that organized the expedition.

Tilak Pandey, liaison officer of the Tourism Ministry´s Mountaineering Division confirmed the climb over phone from the Base Camp.

Apa and his expedition members left Camp IV (7950m) Tuesday night to launch their final assault on the mountain. They climbed all night Tuesday, and also on Wednesday morning before setting their feet on the top. Apa and the team members savored the views from the top, and took pictures before starting their climb down to Camp II where they plan to take rest.

“It takes a lot of will power to do something as difficult and needing a lot of strength at very high altitude over and over and over again,” climbing historian Elizabeth Hawley said commenting on Apa´s 21st summit. “It is really a remarkable achievement,” the best-known chronicler of mountaineering in Nepal was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Humble start to illustrious career

Born in Thame village of Solukhumbu in 1960, Apa began his now illustrious career at the age of 12 when he carried supplies for trekkers. He first attempted to scale Mt Everest in 1988, but failed. After two more unsuccessful attempts, he made it to the top of the 8,848-meter peak for the first time in 1990.

For the past four years, Apa has climbed Mt Everest with the aim of raising awareness about climate change.

The four editions of Eco Everest Expedition that he leads is credited for bringing down more than 13.5 tons of trash from the upper slopes of the mountain to the Base Camp under a cash for trash scheme that rewards climbers and guides with Rs 100 per kilogram of trash they bring down.

In addition, Apa´s expedition has brought down four dead bodies for dignified burial, and the wreckage of an Italian Army helicopter that crashed at the Khumbu Icefall in 1973.

“This expedition is focused on climbing in an eco-sensitive manner to keep Everest clean and collect garbage, debris and waste left by past expeditions,” said Dawa Steven Sherpa, member and organizer of Eco Everest expedition.

Apart from cleaning up the slopes of the mountain, Apa´s expedition promotes the practice of using alternative energy solutions like parabolic solar cookers, solar lightings, ultraviolet light pens for water purification, and portable toilets.

Apa moved to Utah, USA, in 2006. He visits Nepal every spring to lead the Eco Everest expedition.

In total, 11 people climbed the mountain on Wednesday. Apart from seven members of Apa´s expedition, four members of Adventure Consultant expedition also reached the top, according to Pandey.

“There will be a flurry of summits on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” said Pandey. The Mountaineering Division has issued 273 climbing permits for this season.

More than 3,000 people have climbed Mt Everest since Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary made the maiden summit in 1953. In total there have been over 5,000 summits, including repeat ones.

Source:myrepublica.com