Busy times on the world's highest mountain with the oldest ever summiteer topping out. Plus Fiennes gives up mountains.
Sir Rannulph Fiennes may have failed in his latest attempt to
climb the world's highest mountain, but that hasn't stopped an
estimated 241 climbers reaching the highest point on
earth with a number of records being broken along the way.
The highest point on earth - OM member Conan Harrod
summits in 2006 - more pics in his OM
Gallery album
Principal among these was the success of 76-year-old Nepali - 77
if everestnews.com is right - Bahadur Sherchan in climbing the
mountain, making him the oldest ever Everest summiteer. The
retired soldier was part of a 12-man Sherpa team.
Remarkably 75-year-old Yuichiro Miura also reached the summit.
He'd climbed the mountain previously and in 2003 held the record as
the oldest summiteer at the age of 70
Another local, Appa Sherpa, 47, broke his own record for the most
ascents of the mountain when he summited for an incredible 18th time
last week.
Another record was reportedly set last Thursday with 86
mountaineers summiting the mountain thanks to window of good weather.
Everest had been closed to climbers until the Chinese Olympic Torch
team succeeded earlier this month.
Fiennes Not Going Back
In contrast, Rannulph Fiennes retreated from the mountain over the
weekend descending from Camp 4 to Base Camp in one day. He turned
back due to exhaustion after missing out on a rest day at Camp 4
thanks to deteriorating weather and says he won't be returning to the
mountain:
'I won't be returning to Everest, it's a seven week trip -
last time I had a heart attack, this time bad timing and weather
scuppered my chances, I think any third attempt would be bad
luck.'
Next day, his web site at www.everestchallenge.org.uk
reports, he vowed 'never to climb a mountain again' having targetted
the world's highest mountain and its 'most dangerous', the Eiger.
Finally, we're not sure whether British guide Kenton Kool who was
with Fiennes on the mountain summited or not. For all the information
about Fiennes on the Everest Challenge web site, there's no
confirmation we can see of what happened to Cool. The only reference
is Fiennes reporting that he continued upwards promising to take the
Marie Curie banner to the summit.
More Everest details at www.everestnews.com
and www.mounteverest.net
