Apa conquers Mount Everest for 21st time, breaks his own previous record
Thursday - 12th May 2011
Kosh R. Koirala Reporting From Nepal
Kathmandu, 12 May, (Asiantribune.com):
Mountaineering legend Apa Sherpa made it to the top of the world highest peak, Mount Everest, Wednesday morning for the 21st time, breaking his own previous record.
According to officials at Mountaineering Department, Apa conquered the world’s highest mountain at 9:15 am along with other climbers of Eco Everest Expedition.
Apa was accompanied by Chris Shumate, 49, of USA and Bruno Gremior, 39, of Switzerland and four other high altitude climbing Sherpas.
Apa and his fellow climbers of the Eco Everest Expedition had left Camp IV (7950 meter) Tuesday night to reach their final destination.
They climbed all night Tuesday and also Wednesday morning before setting their feet on the top of the 8,848-meter tall peak.
Apa had set world new record for the most summits of the world’s tallest mountain by making it to the top of the Everest for 20th time last May. The 51-year old mountaineer guide had hoisted a Nepali flag imprinted with the slogan of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 on the top of the Mt. Everest in order to spread the message of tourism year last year.
Apa made the first successful ascent of Everest on May 10, 1990, and set foot atop the summit twice in 1992 and 1997. He has been climbing the highest peak regularly since 1990 except in 1996 and 2001.
Though Apa announced his retirement citing family reasons after completing his 12th summit in 2002, he could not resist his temptation to scale the coveted peak for long time and stepped again atop the Everest for the 13th time in 2003.
