„Super Sherpa“ Scales Mount Everest for Record 21st Time

A 51-year-old Nepali mountaineer nicknamed „Super Sherpa“ climbed Mount Everest for a record 21st time on May 11th. He broke his own record for the most summits of the world’s highest mountain.

Apa Sherpa, who lives in the United States, reached the 29,000-foot peak of the mountain along the Southeast Ridge route, pioneered by New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who were the first to reach the top of the world in 1953.

Apa was accompanied by American Chris Shumate, Bruno Gremior of Switzerland and four other Sherpa climbers.

Apa’s Eco Everest Expedition team was made from climbers from different countries that set out to collect five tons of decades-old garbage – discarded oxygen cylinders, gas canisters, torn tents, ropes and plastic dumped by past climbers.

During a news conference Apa said it is important for the younger generation to take on his role.

[Apa Sherpa, Record Breaking Climber]:
„What I want now is to give the responsibility to the young people of the country and let them do the things that we have been doing.“

The objective of the latest expedition was to climb in an eco-sensitive manner and to keep Everest clean.

When asked if he would ascend the mountain again, Apa said he was retiring.

[Apa Sherpa, Record Breaking Climber]:
„My intention is not to participate in trekking and to not even go to Base Camp. I want to help with whatever the country needs, but I feel that it is my last trip beyond Base Camp, and I won’t do the 22nd attempt.“

Apa first climbed the summit of Everest in 1990.

Hundreds of climbers are on Everest during the current March-May climbing season to try to reach the top from the Nepali and Tibetan sides of the mountain.

More than 3,100 climbers have made at least 5,100 ascents of Mount Everest since Hillary and Norgay.

Foto: NTD