Nepalese climber scales world’s 14 highest peaks twice
Kathmandu, July 21 (EFE).- A 47-year-old Nepali became the first climber in the world to summit the planet’s 14 highest mountains twice, a feat that no other climbers have achieved.
The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation recognizes eight-thousanders as the 14 mountains that are more than 8,000 meters (26,247 ft) above sea level.
Sanu Sherpa from eastern Nepal reached the 8,035 meters Gasherbrum II in Pakistan, the 13th highest mountain in the world, on Thursday morning, hiking agency Pioneer Adventure told Efe in Kathmandu.
He achieved the double feat in 17 years since he started climbing mountains in 2006.
“He reached the summit of Gasherbrum II at 8.17 am (Nepal time), completing his double ascent of the world’s 14th highest peaks above 8,000 metres,” Nivesh Karki, executive director of Pioneer Adventure, told Efe.
“This is the world record. No one has climbed the 14th highest peaks twice.”
This year he climbed five peaks–Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Makalu (8,463 m), Lhotse (8,516 m)–in Nepal and Nanga Parbat (8,125 m) and Gasherbrum II (8,035 m) in Pakistan.
After completing the spring expedition in the April-May period, Sherpa had flown to Pakistan on June 11 to make his dreams come true, said Karki. Sherpa climbed Nanga Parbat on July 2.
Born in a poor family in a far-flung remote village of Makalu, Sanu Sherpa started his career as a porter. A came to Kathmandu in search of a job in 2005.
Soon he was hired as a kitchen helper with an expedition team in Island Peak.
He, however, made his mountaineering debut only after a year.
In the spring of 2006, he and two other climbing sherpas guided 19 Korean mountaineers to Cho Oyu (8,012 m).
Sanu Sherpa made the ascent on the first attempt. Then in the same year in October, he climbed Shishapangma (8,012 m) in China. He never looked back.
He has climbed Everest, the world’s tallest peak seven times. EFE
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