KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 9

Nepali climber Prakash Raj Pandey has successfully scaled Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, located in Argentina, as part of his 'Seven Summits' challenge. Pandey reached the summit at 7:50 AM local time on February 6 and hoisted Nepal's national flag.

Pandey, who is climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents, embarked on this expedition with a national flag handed to him by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. He departed for Buenos Aires on January 21 and was accompanied by Chatur Tamang, a record-holding mountaineer who has scaled Mount Everest seven times. This was Pandey's fourth summit in the Seven Summits challenge and his 11th successful climb overall.

Prior to Aconcagua, Pandey and Tamang had summited Mount Elbrus in Russia, the highest peak in Europe. Pandey has also summited Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaroas well as challenging peaks like Mt. Manaslu and the technically demanding Mt. Ama Dablam.

Despite Aconcagua's lower elevation compared to Everest, Pandey described the climb as exceptionally challenging due to unpredictable weather conditions, which made it feel almost as difficult as summiting Everest. He undertook this expedition under the brand 'Makalu Outfit' and carried Nepal's unique triangular flag, along with the flags of Nepal Scouts and Rotary International, to promote youth involvement and adventure.

In addition to climbing, Pandey is also raising awareness about climate change. During his expedition, he engaged with local stakeholders, emphasizing that Nepal and other biodiverse countries are suffering unexpected losses due to climate change. He pointed out that while poorer nations contribute the least to global emissions, they face the harshest consequences. He believes that adapting our lifestyles is necessary to break free from this cycle of hardship.

Pandey also expressed his hope that his journey would strengthen diplomatic ties between Nepal and Argentina while promoting Nepal as a premier adventure tourism destination in South America. His next goal is to climb Denali, the highest peak in North America, as part of his Seven Summits challenge. He also shared his vision of completing the challenge in his home country by summiting Mount Everest.