Nepal

Yeti group chair Lhakpa Sonam scales Everest, completes all seven summits

By THT Online

Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa

KATHMANDU, MAY 17

It has been 30 years since Pasang Lhamu Sherpa scaled Mt Everest becoming the first Nepali woman to stand atop the world's highest peak.

Remembering Pasang Lhamu's notable feat, her husband Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa on Tuesday completed the 'real seven summits' by successfully reaching the roof of the world.

Senior tourism entrepreneur Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa, who is also the chairman of Yeti Group, parent company of Yeti Airlines and Tara Air, stood atop the summit of Mt Everest at around 7:34 am, according to the base camp officials.

Being a part of an expedition run by Thamserku Trekking for Mt Everest this season, Sherpa has now completed all 'real seven summits.'

Earlier, Sherpa climbed Mt Aconcagua (6,962 m) in Argentina, Mt Denali (6,190 m) in North America, Mt Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in Africa, Mt Elbrus (5,642 m) in Europe, Puncak Jaya/ Mt Carstensz (4,884 m) in Oceania and Mt Vinson (4,892 m) in Antarctica.

Sherpa, who organised hundreds of expeditions from his company - Thamserku Trekking - in the last four decades, has also become one of the few climbers to have completed all 'real' seven summits including the summit of Mt Carstensz.

Most of the Nepali climbers who completed seven summits had not climbed Mt Carstensz as they had opted for Mt Kosciuszko in Australia. Climbing fraternity is however divided over the 'real' seven summits whether to credit either Mt Carstensz or Mt Kosciuszko.

Lhakpa Sonam is the founder and Chairman of Thamserku Trekking. He is also Executive Chairman of Yeti Airlines, Managing Director of Yeti Mountain Home, deluxe mountain lodges in the Everest region and Ker and Downey, comfort lodges in Annapurna region.

Lhakpa Sonam's late wife Pasang Lhamu was the first Nepali woman to climb Everest in 1993, who lost her life on the mountain during the descent.

Amongst other, Lhakpa Sonam has also scaled Mt Annapurna I (1985), Mt Dhaulagiri (1986) and Mt Thamserku (1987) in Nepal.