Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
  2. 2

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
  3. 3

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
  4. 4

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
  5. 5

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
  1. 6

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
  2. 7

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
  3. 8

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
  4. 9

    S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership

    S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
  5. 10

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
피터빈트

Hundreds of climbers reach Everest peak in May: official

By a2017001

Published : June 13, 2017 - 15:22

    • Link copied

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AFP) -- Nearly 450 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepal side in May, officials said Monday, but poor weather and inexperience prevented many others from reaching the top this season.

Nepal issued a record number of permits to foreign mountaineers during the spring climbing season, when a brief window of good weather between late April and the end of May sees a rush for the top of the world’s highest peak.

Almost 450 climbers -- 190 foreigners and 259 Nepalis -- made the top from the south side in Nepal, said Khem Raj Aryal, an official with the tourism department.

In this photograph taken on May 25, 2017, Indian mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta poses for a photograph with the equipment he had with him during his successful bid to summit Mount Everest, at his home in Bangalore. (AFP-Yonhap) In this photograph taken on May 25, 2017, Indian mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta poses for a photograph with the equipment he had with him during his successful bid to summit Mount Everest, at his home in Bangalore. (AFP-Yonhap)

At least 120 others are believed to have made the summit from the Tibetan side, according to unofficial figures.

The Tibet China Mountaineering Association, which validates all ascents from the north side, said they did not yet have confirmed numbers.

Predictions of dangerous overcrowding on Everest failed to materialize though six climbers -- including feted Swiss mountaineer Ueli Steck -- perished this season.

Unpredictable weather, including strong winds and unusually cold temperatures at the summit, forced many to turn back.

A large number of climbers were also hit with frostbite, leading to more abandoned attempts, said German climber Billi Bierling, who runs an online archive of mountaineering expeditions.

Bierling said many climbers “ran out of patience” waiting for a break in the weather, while some less seasoned mountaineers lost their nerve.

“More and more inexperienced people go to Everest and some of them realize that the mountain is just too big for them and give up quickly,” she said.

There has been a steady rise in the number of climbers attempting to summit Everest in the last decade as the cost of climbing the peak has been reduced considerably.

Foreigners must pay $11,000 for a permit to scale the mountain but cut-price climbing outfits skimping on basic safety requirements have flourished in recent years, luring amateurs to the challenge.

Steck, who died during an acclimatization climb in late April, was not the only high-profile casualty of the climbing season. Min Bahadur Sherchan, 85, perished while trying to reclaim his title as the world’s oldest person to reach the top.

The season was also marred by two scandals.

South African Ryan Sean Davy was caught on the mountain without a permit and slapped with a 10-year climbing ban, while Polish adventurer Janusz Adamski illegally crossed onto the Nepali side of Everest from Tibet.

Adamski was also given a 10-year climbing ban and could be expelled for illegally entering Nepal. A decision on his deportation is expected Tuesday, said Lokmanya Golchha, Poland’s honorary consul-general.

More from Headlines