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| Kathmandu, Friday March 28, 2003 Chaitra 14, 2059. |
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Lhakpa Gelu to attempt for
fastest ascent of Everest
Post Report
KATHMANDU, March 27 : Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, a
veteran of nine successful ascent of Mt. Everest, will attempt for the fastest ascent of
the world’s tallest peak this spring, it was announced at a press meet held at Nepal
Mountaineering Association (NMA) on Thursday.
Lhakpa Gelu, accompanying the Jubilaeum
Expedition team in May to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Everest’s maiden
ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, will try to climb the mountain in 15
hours from the mountain’s southern ridge.
The current record for the fastest ascent is
held by late Babu Chiri Sherpa, who reached the summit from the base camp in 16 hours 56
minutes in the spring of 2000.
Talking to reporters, the 35-year-old said that
the idea first stemmed into his mind following a successful ascent of Everest in 1999. And
subsequently, he had planned to make it during the period of the Golden Jubilee
celebration of the mountain’s first ascent.
"Having climbed the mountain so many times,
I think this feat is achievable if weather permits," said Lhakpa Gelu, who first
scaled the world’s highest peak in 1993.
Revealing his expedition plans to reporters, he
said he would take on this mission after helping his expedition team reach the summit.
"The team has planned to reach the summit
by May 25," said the 35-year-old mountain guide. "Then I’ll climb down to
the base camp and go for the record after two days."
He plans to reach the Camp II in four hours from
the base camp, then further three hours between Camp II and South Col with a few hours’
rest and five hours between South Col and the summit.
He has another plan too. "I intend to mount
a brass-made Nepali national flag at the top," he said.
"The Tripod, mounted by the Chinese
expedition team in 1975, used to serve climbers as a proof to their successful ascent of
Mt. Everest. But buried underneath the snow, it is no longer visible.
"Once this flag is installed at the top, I
hope, it will act as a symbol of success," he added.
And given his previous experiences at high
altitude, few express surprise over his latest ambition.
"With numerous successful expeditions of
Everest under his belt, I believe he would have
any difficulty in achieving this feat," said Ang Tshering Sherpa, the president of
NMA, who assisted the climber with three oxygen cylinders for the mission. On the
occasion, association’s vice-president Bikrum Pandey also provided him with a
financial help, handing over a cheque for Rs. 15,000.
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