Sherpa first to climb Everest from Nepal this season

by Sanjay Jha | May 21, 2008 at 05:31 am | 120 views | add comment

Climbers have succeded in reaching to the peak of Mount Everest for this season. Total of 9 people from US, Canada & UK have reached the summit today morning. All expeditions from Tibet side is closed so there is big rush on nepalese ascent point.

A Nepalese Sherpa was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest this spring climbing season from the southern approach to the peak, officials said Wednesday.

"Nepalese high altitude worker Namge Sherpa reached the summit Tuesday afternoon," tourism ministry official Ramesh Khatri Chhetri said.

Early Wednesday 17 climbers -- including nine foreigners -- reached the highest point on the planet, the official said.

"Nine people from the United States, Canada and the UK reached the summit early Wednesday morning," the official from the ministry's mountaineering department said.

China banned all expeditions from the approach through Tibet during its successful ascent with the Olympic torch, so this spring season is expected to be a busy one on the Nepalese side with various climbers vying to set new records.

This year, Apa Sherpa aims to smash his own world record of 17 successful ascents of the mountain considered holy by many in Nepal and Tibet.