Nepal is to hold a cabinet meeting on Mount Everest to highlight the threat global warming poses to glaciers. On 4 December prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and those politicians physically fit enough will ascend 17,192ft (5,250m) to base camp. In October the Maldives held a cabinet meeting underwater to warn of the effect of rising sea levels. This meeting, to be held before the Copenhagen climate conference, aims to highlight Himalayan glacier melt. With ice in the region melting at a rapid rate, lakes have been formed which could flood nearby villages. Melted ice and snow also makes mountaineering routes more hazardous. At such a high altitude health is a major concern, so a team of doctors will accompany the politicians. They will fly to Everest's only airstrip, Lukla. Doctors will make a final health assessment before a helicopter takes the cabinet to base camp, at the foot of Everest. Once there they will hold a brief outdoor meeting. Mount Everest is the highest point on earth, with a summit 29,035 ft (8,850 m) above sea level.
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Sunday, November 29, 2009
Mount Everest to host Nepal cabinet meeting
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Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sherchan gets Guinness recognition
www.myrepublica.com/
| Sherchan gets Guinness recognition | |
BIKASH SANGRAULA Sherchan is making the announcement at a press meet on Monday evening in Kathmandu, his son Bhojendra Sherchan said. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is expected to attend the conference. A certificate handed to Sherchan by the Guinness World Records says, “The oldest man to climb Mt Everest is Min Bahadur Sherchan (Nepal b. 20 June 1931) who reached the summit on 25 May 2008 at the age of 76 years 340 days.” Surendra Sapkota, under-secretary at the Mountaineering Division, Ministry of Tourism, confirmed the recognition. “I have received a copy of the certificate. Sherchan is now officially the oldest man to reach the summit,” he told myrepublica.com. "I am relieved to finally receive the recognition that is rightfully mine," Sherchan said.  Sherchan received the shock of his life in February this year when he came to know that Miura´s office in Tokyo had revealed to the media that he had been given the recognition by the records book. In May, Sherchan met Guinness Book officials in London to enquire about the matter and came to realize that he had not completed necessary formalities. Believing that he had done more than the needful by actually climbing the world´s tallest peak, Sherchan had just couriered a copy of recognition by the government and an appreciation letter given to him by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav. But during the London trip, Sherchan made a personal claim to the record, filled up necessary documents and furnished necessary evidence to support his claim, which eventually led to the recognition. The documentary lapses had made the Guinness Book recognize Miura, who climbed the mountain two days after Sherchan at the age of 75. Miura, who has undergone two heart surgeries, and was the first person to ski down Everest South Col, which he did in 1970, had set the record in 2003 when he climbed Mt Everest at the age of 70. The record was beaten by another Japanese climber Katsusuke Yanagisawa, who achieved the feat in 2007. And in 2008, Sherchan set the new record. Sherchan, a retired soldier, was born in Bhurung Tatopani of Myagdi district. Source |
Friday, November 20, 2009
10 Highest Peak in The World
Top 10 Highest Peaks in the World
Nepal is blessed with 8 out of 10 highest peaks in the world and Nepali people are proud of it. I am going to present some photos and details of the ten highest peaks in this post.
1. Mount Everest 8850m (29035ft) Nepal
The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest is also called Qomolangma/Chomolungma (Tibetian) and Sagarmatha (Nepali). Chomolungma in Tibetian means “Mother of the Universe” or “Goddess Mother of the Snows” and Sagarmatha in Nepali means “Head of the Sky”. Further details about the peak can be read in this wikipedia page.
Aerial view of Mount Chomolungma (Everest). Picture: ICT(source)
2. K2 (Qogir) 8611m (28250ft) Pakistan / China
K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth, is located in the Karakoram segment of the Himalayan range, on the border between the Gilgit-Baltistan region of the Pakistan administered Northern Areas and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China. Further read in Wikipedia.
3. Kangchenjunga 8586m (28169ft) Nepal
Kangchenjunga translated means “The Five Treasures of Snows”, as it contains five peaks, four of them over 8,450 metres.
- Kangchenjunga Main 8,586m (28,169 ft.)
- Kangchenjunga West (Yalung Kang) 8,505m (27,904 ft.)
- Kangchenjunga Central (Middle) 8,482m (27,828 ft.)
- Kangchenjunga South 8,494m (27,867 ft.)
- Kangbachen 7,903m (25,925 ft.)
Photo and details in Wikipedia
4. Lhotse 8501m (27920ft) Nepal
This peak is connected to Mount Everest via the South Col. In addition to the main summit at 8,516 metres above sea level, Lhotse Middle (East) is 8,414 metres and Lhotse Shar is 8,383 metres. The rises 3.2 km (1.98 mi) in only 2.25 km (1.4 mi) of horizontal distance, making it the steepest face of this size in the world.(Wikipedia)
5. Makalu I 8462m (27765ft) Nepal
Makalu is located 22 km (14 mi) east of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Makalu is an isolated peak whose shape is a four-sided pyramid.
Makalu Photo source
6. Cho Oyu 8201m (26906ft) Nepal
Cho Oyu means “Turquoise Goddess” in Tibetan. It lies 20 km west of Mount Everest, at the border between China and Nepal. (Wikipedia page)
Beautiful sunset view of Cho Oyu (source)
7. Dhaulagiri 8167m (26794ft) Nepal
Dhaulagiri means “White Mountain”. (Photo from wikipedia)
8. Manaslu I 8156m (26758ft) Nepal
Manaslu is derived from the Sanskrit word Manasa and is translated as “Mountain of the Spirit” (wikipedia)
The subtle changes of the light on the ice of Manaslu are terrific, turning from grey to pink to orange to yellow and then the ‘regular’ white. (text and photo source)
9. Nanga Parbat 8125m (26658ft) Pakistan
Nanga Parbat means “Naked Mountain” in Hindi. (wikipedia)
10. Annapurna I 8091m (26545ft) Nepal
Annapurna is a Sanskrit name which is translated as Goddess of the Harvests.
Read more: http://blog.xnepali.com/top-10-highest-peaks-in-the-world/#ixzz0XRgKG2Ht
Monday, November 16, 2009
वाद-प्रतिवादमा बीपी र चाउ एनलाई
स्मरण»
वाद-प्रतिवादमा बीपी र चाउ एनलाई
वैशाख १७ गते चाउ एनलाईको प्रतिनिधि मण्डल स्वदेश फर्किंदै थियो । त्यसै दिन बिहान शीतल निवासमा चाउ एनलाईका साथ चीनको राज्यपरष्िाद्का उपप्रधानमन्त्री तथा परराष्ट्र विभागका मन्त्री मार्सल चेन यी उपस्िथत थिए । चिनियाँहरू अंग्रेजी भाषामा ज्यादै कमजोर हुँदा रहेछन् । हामीले बोलेको अंग्रेजी पनि नबुझ्ने । त्यसैले तिनीहरूले दोभाषेको सहयोग लिएका थिए । नेपालका तर्फबाट भने बीपी र म उपस्िथत थियौँ ।
दूताबास स्थापना र वायरलेस सेटबारे कुराकानी सकिएपछि चाउ एनलाईले भने, "अब एभरेस्ट -सगरमाथा)बारे पनि वाटर सेड -पानी ढलो) पि्रन्सिपलमा तय गरौँ ।" त्यत्तिकैमा बीपीले त्यसको प्रतिवाद गर्दै भन्नुभयो, "सगरमाथा नेपालको हो, त्यसप्रति नेपाली जनताको भावना गाँसिएकाले पानी ढलो सिद्धान्तका आधारमा तय गर्न सकिने अवस्था छैन ।"
त्यत्तिकैमा चाउ एनलाई जंगिए, "एभरेस्टसँग चिनियाँ जनताको सेन्टीमेन्ट छ ।" बीपी पनि के कम ! उहाँले भन्नुभयो, "एभरेस्टको चिनियाँ भाषामा नाम नै नभएकाले चिनियाँ जनताको भावना याने सेन्टीमेन्टको प्रश्न नै आउँदैन ।" "छ, किन छैन ? एभरेस्टलाई हामी चोमोलोङ्मा भन्छौँ ।" चाउ एनलाईले यति कुरा के भन्न भ्याएका थिए, बीपीले भन्नुभयो, "त्यो त तिब्बती नाम हो ।"
यस्तो सवालजवाफ टुलुटुलु हेररिहेको म पनि त्यत्तिकै चुप लागेर बस्न सकिनँ । मैले भनँे, "एभरेस्ट याने सगरमाथाको उत्तरी पानी ढलोभन्दा पनि तलको रोम्बुक गुम्बाले नेपाललाई तिरो बुझाइ आएकोबाट पनि सगरमाथा नेपालको हो भन्ने देखाएको छ ।" त्यसपछि चाउ एनलाईले नै भने, "त्यसो भए दुवै देशका जनताको भावनात्मक विषय भएकाले यस मुद्दालाई यथावत् राखौँ ।"
विश्वमा नै महान् कूटनीतिज्ञ कहलिएका चाउ एनलाईसँग सगरमाथा विवादको विषयमा बीपीले देखाउनुभएको त्यो साहस कमै मानिसमा पाइन्छ । मातृभूमिप्रतिको उहाँको त्यो प्रतिबद्धता सराहनीय थियो । म बीपीको त्यस अडानबाट ज्यादै प्रभावित भएँ । तर, एउटा डर थियो, विवादले समस्या समाधानको सट्टा दुई देशबीच नयाँ समस्या जन्माउँछ कि भन्ने ! हामी पनि अलि आलाकाँचा नै थियौँ । जोश थियो तर त्यसले मात्र समस्या समाधान हुँदैनथ्यो । तर पनि त्यस्तो कुनै दुर्घटना भएन । चिनियाँ पक्षले नै राजासँग यस विषयमा पछि कुराकानी गरेर विवाद टुंग्याउने बताएपछि हामीले चिनियाँ प्रतिनिधि मण्डलाई बिदाइ गरेका थियौँ ।
त्यसअघि गृह तथा कानुनमन्त्री सूर्यप्रसाद उपाध्याय, निर्माण, सञ्चार तथा नहर मन्त्री गणेशमान सिंहसहितको नेपाली प्रतिनिधि मण्डल ०१६ फागुन २७ गते चिनियाँ प्रधानमन्त्री चाउ एनलाईको निमन्त्रणामा दुई साता लामो पेकिङ् भ्रमणमा पुगेको थियो । प्रधानमन्त्री बीपी कोइराला भने बर्माको दुईदिने भ्रमण सकेर रंगुनबाटै त्यसतर्फ लाग्नुभएको थियो । भ्रमणका क्रममा प्रधानमन्त्री कोइरालाले सांघाईनजिकको ह्योग चाउको एउटा तालको किनाराको बासस्थानमा चिनियाँ कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीका अध्यक्ष माओत्सेतुङ्सँग कुराकानी गर्नुभयो ।
त्यस भ्रमणका क्रममा नै पहिलोपटक सगरमाथा विवादको विषय बन्यो । सगरमाथाको हकदाबी साझा हुने भनेर चिनियाँ पक्षले अड्को थापेपछि त्यो विवादको विषय बनेको थियो । नेपाली प्रतिनिधि मण्डलले त्यसप्रति आपत्ति मात्र जनाएन, खुलेर विरोध पनि गर्यो । चिनियाँ पक्षले त्यो मुद्दा चर्को रूपमा उठाएपछि त्यसको विरोधस्वरूप नेपालमा जनमत सिर्जना गर्न बीपीले चीनबाटै हामीलाई निर्देशन दिनुभयो । सोही निर्देशनबमोजिम मन्त्री नै भए पनि मेरै नेतृत्वमा त्यसको विरोधमा नेपालमा ठूलो जुलुस निकाल्यौँ । हजारौँको संख्यामा उपस्िथत त्यस जुलुसमा हामीले 'सगरमाथा हाम्रो हो, सगरमाथा हाम्रो शिर हो' जस्ता गगनभेदी नारा लगाउँदै सहरका विभिन्न भागको परत्रिmमा गरेका थियौँ ।
त्यसबेला म बडो असमन्जस्यमा थिएँ । किनभने, मैले दुईवटा भूमिका निर्वाह गर्नुपरेको थियो । चाउ एनलाईले सगरमाथा साझा हो भनेर अडान लिएको विरोधमा सडकमै उत्रिनुपर्यो भने उनी राजकीय भ्रमणमा नेपाल आउँदा उनको स्वागतार्थ मेरै सभापतित्वमा समिति गठन गर्नुपर्यो । कस्तो विडम्बना !
बीपीले भन्नुभयो, "होराजी, चाउ एनलाईको नेपालमा भव्य स्वागत हुनुपर्छ । सम्मान र स्वागतमा कुनै कसर बाँकी राख्नु हुँदैन ।" अलिकति तलबितल पर्यो कि दुई देशको सम्बन्धमा नै असर पथ्र्यो । त्यो कुरा बुझेर नै मैले त्यस प्रतिनिधि मण्डलको भव्य स्वागतार्थ तयारी गरेँ । एक किसिमले त्यो सफल पनि भयो ।
नेपाल भ्रमणका क्रममा चाउ एनलाईलाई यताउति हिँडाउन ज्यादै समस्या पथ्र्यो । कतिसम्म भने सिंहदरबार जान पनि उनीहरू कठिन मान्थे । किनभने, त्यसबेला चिनियाँहरूको विश्वास के थियो भने तिब्बतीहरूलाई अमेरकिी सहयोग प्राप्त छ । हाम्रो सूचना स्रोतलाई उनीहरू पत्याउँदै पत्याउँदैनथे ।
यसरी विवादको विषय बनेको सगरमाथाको मुद्दा ०१७ सालको घटनालगत्तै राजा महेन्द्रको चीन भ्रमणपछि टुंगियो । उत्तरमा चीन र यता दक्षिणमा नेपालको आधिपत्यको कुरामा त्यो मुद्दा टुंगिएको थियो । राजा महेन्द्रले चीनसँग त्यसबारेमा सम्झौता गरेका थिए । उनले चीन भ्रमणलगत्तै नेपाल फर्केर दिएको प्रतिक्रिया भने यस्तो थियो, "सगरमाथा जहाँ छ, त्यहीँ रहनेछ ।"
Friday, November 13, 2009
Man Against Mount Everest 1954
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Climbing Legend- Pasang Lhamu Sherpa
 
In 2000, Lhakpa Sherpa, from the village of Sankhuwasabha, scaled Everest in a historic all-woman Sherpa expedition. A year later, the 29-year-old finished the trek again. At the time of this writing,* she is attempting yet another ascent of the world's highest peak. If she succeeds, Lhakpa will be the only woman in the world to have reached the summit of Mount Everest three times. The female mountaineer follows in the footsteps of more than 50 other women who have conquered Mount Everest. But only one other Nepali woman, Pasang Lhamu, climbed Everest. She died in the attempt. Today Pasang Lhamu is honored as one of Nepal's 15 national heroes, along with past kings and religious leaders.
"When a Sherpa climbs Everest ... for us, it is a journey into the lap of God," says Norbu Tenzing, son of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who made history in 1953 when he helped guide New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary to the first summitting of Mount Everest. "Pasang Lhamu became a symbol of hope, as my father was to millions of Asians in his time. She was a metaphor for being able to do what you want to do. Any Sherpa woman who climbs now looks to her as the trailblazer."
"She said, 'All of these men and women from all over the world come here and climb this mountain in our backyard. Why can't I do that too?'" recalls Dorjee Sherpa, her brother, who now lives in San Francisco. By the time she was 32, Pasang Lhamu had three children and a husband and had attempted to climb Everest three times. On her first attempt in 1990, she reached 8,000 meters of the 8,848-meter peak without oxygen. She also successfully scaled the Yala Peak in the Himalaya range and Mount Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps. In traditional Sherpa culture, women assume the role of head of household for up to 10 months of the year while their husbands are away working as porters for foreigners. In addition to rearing the children, women are often left to farm and tend yaks. Today, as thousands of Westerners flock to the region every year and leave behind footprints of another way of life, Sherpa women also have become central to preserving centuries-old customs and traditions.
"In a sense, the woman climbing Everest is a bigger loss for the family [than when men leave home to climb]," says Norbu Tenzing. "So the fear, the concern of the husband and the family when a Sherpa woman leaves for expedition of something happening to her is very genuine." This fear became fate for Pasang Lhamu's family in 1993 when, 21 days after she reached Mount Everest's summit, her body was recovered just 72 meters below the mountaintop. Bad weather had thwarted rescue climbers' efforts to save the expedition team, which included Sonam Tshring Sherpa, a five-time conqueror of Mount Everest, who also died. More than 20,000 people, including Sherpa guides and members of her family, followed Pasang Lhamu's funeral procession, led by Tibetan monks, lamas and a police band. "My mother was totally devastated," says Dorjee Sherpa. "We all were. When I visit her, she still cries about it and tells me all the stories."
"She always regretted that my parents didn't send her to school," says Dorjee Sherpa, "and she wanted there to be some sort of Nepali public figure for women lacking education, someone to say, 'You can do things, even if you don't go to school.' My sister, she opened the door for not just Sherpa women, but all Nepali women." And one of the women for whom she opened the door is Lhakpa Sherpa, who is challenging Everest again. "In some ways Lhakpa is Pasang's shadow," says Norbu Tenzing. "Maybe this is a new breed of Sherpa women who are showing to some degree their independence, their desire, that they can follow their own dreams too." |
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Facts about Everest
| Age of Everest: |
| Elevation: |
| Name in Nepal: |
| In Tibet: |
| Named after: |
| Location: |
| First Ascent: |
| First Solo Ascent: |
| First winter Ascent: |
| First Ascent by an American: |
| Mt. Everest rises a few milimeters each year due to geological forces |
| Everest Name: |
| First Ascent by a Woman: |
| First Ascent by an American Woman: |
| First Oxygenless Ascent: |
| First woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest from both north & south sides: |
| Fastest Ascent from South: |
| Fastest Ascent (north side): |
| Youngest person: |
| Oldest Person: |
| First Legally Blind Person: |
| Most Ascents: |
| Best and Worst Years on Everest: |
| Highest cause cause of death: |
| Country with most deaths on mountain: |
| Most dangerous area on mountain: |
| First ski descent: |
| Last year without ascent: |
| Last year without ascent: |
| Corpses remaining on Everest: |
| Longest stay on top: |
| Largest team: |
| Fastest descent: |
| Only climber to climb all 4 sides of Everest: |
| First person to hike from sea level to summit, no oxygen.: |
| Largest number to reach the top in one day: |
| First person to summit Everest twice: |
| The oldest woman to summit |
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