Veteran climbers announce Denali expedition to mark diamond jubilee of US-Nepal ties
This expedition is organized for a cause and sends an important message that hits home, be it in the USA or anywhere in the world: "Climb Against Cancer".
Published: 06:13 pm Mar 31, 2022
KATHMANDU, MARCH 31
A team of veteran American and Nepali mountaineers will be attempting to climb Mt Denali in Alaska to mark the 75 years of diplomatic relationship between Nepal and the USA.
According to the organizer, the expedition will begin on 02 June 2022 and will be led by Karma Tenzing of Nepal and Mark Parella of the USA.
Also, the team consists of World Record Holders, national record holders, and many acclaimed mountaineers.
Amidst a function here in Kathmandu, Public Affairs Chief Garrett E. Wilkerson handed over the expedition banner to the team.
In 1947, the United States recognized Nepal as a sovereign country and established diplomatic relations in 1948.
The strong ties between both countries still endure and to honor the relationship, a team of veteran mountaineers will be attempting to climb Denali in Alaska, USA, which is the highest mountain in North America, team leader Karma Tenzing said.
Denali is considered one of the most extreme and challenging mountains to climb due to its terrain and proximity to the Arctic Circle. With the two great nations' sharing 75 years of an official relationship, the team has named the expedition, 'USA - Nepal Friendship Team'.
In addition, this expedition is organized for a cause and sends an important message that hits home, be it in the USA or anywhere in the world: 'Climb Against Cancer'.
According to the expedition organizer, Mark Parella is a US Navy veteran, Everest summiteer, and climber of numerous mountains in the US and around the world.
Karma Tenzing currently holds 2 Nepal national records. He is an Everest summiteer, polar explorer and is on track to complete his Explorer's Grand Slam by 2023.
Team member Mingma Sherpa is the first South Asian to summit all 14 highest peaks in the world. In the process, he set a world record by becoming the first mountaineer to climb all 14 peaks on the first attempt. Mingma and his brother, Chhang Dawa Sherpa, hold the world record of the world's first two brothers to successfully summit 14 of the world's highest mountains.
Chhang Dawa Sherpa is the youngest person to summit all 14 highest mountains in the world until 2019.
Dawa and his brother Mingma Sherpa together hold the world record as the first brothers to summit the 14 highest peaks in the world.
Mingma Gyabu Sherpa currently is the youngest person to summit all 14 highest peaks in the world. He also holds a record for the fastest time to climb Mt. Everest and Mt. K2 which he did in just 61days.
Karma Gyalje Sherpa is a professional mountain guide and a 4-time Everest summiteer. Karma has also climbed Mt. K2 in 2012, 7-times Manaslu, 2-times Cho-Oyu, G-I in 2013 & 2-times G-II.
Jangbu Sherpa is a world record holder and a Nepal national record holder. He is a 17-time Everest summiteer and has completed more than 25 8,000-meter mountains.
Pasang Dawa Sherpa is a professional mountain guide and a 9-time Everest summiteer. He has completed many other 8,000-meter mountains in the Himalayas.
The U.S. Embassy in Nepal is celebrating 75 years of U.S. - Nepal relations in 2022. Public Affairs Chief Wilkerson etended best wishes to the expedition and underscore the U.S.
The Embassy's support is outstanding example of the strong people to people ties between the United States and Nepal.
President of Nepal Mountaineering Association Santa Bir Lama and President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal Khum Bahadur Subedi also expressed their best wishes to the team.
Pasang Phurba Sherpa from Seven Summit Treks will carry the USA-Nepal friendship team banner to the top of Mt Everest this spring season while the same flag will be later carried to the top of Denali, Thaneswar Guragai, expedition manager, said.