Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 15:

13 summiteers from different countries were felicitated today at a civic felicitation programme in Kathmandu organised to mark the 50th year of the first ascent of Mt Makalu.

Michel Jolivet, ambassador of France to Nepal felicitated the summiteers at a function organised by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) under aegis of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and other municipalities in the valley, to mark the golden jubilee of the first ascent of Mt Makalu.

Hem Sharma, chief of KMC presented a letter of civic reception to French ambassador Jolivet to honour a French expedition that was the first to scale the world’s fifth tallest peak.

Late Jean Couzy and Lionel Terray of French expedition team led by Jean Franco

were the first team to scale the peak on May 15, 1955. So far, 227 climbers have scaled Mt Makalu.

Among those felicitated summiteers were Cristov Velanski, the fifth climber in

the world to scale all 14 peaks above 8000 metre and first American climber Edmund Vistors.

Appreciating Nepal as one of the best adventure tourist destinations in the world, Velanski expressed that he would try his best in promoting adventure tourism in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Shanker Prasad Pandey, chief at the department of tourism, highlighted Nepal’s richness in culture, the majestic Himalayas and natural beauty.

He urged the press and the mountaineers to disseminate true information about Nepal.

Praising the beauty of Nepal and hospitality of Nepali people, ambassador Jolivet said, “it is matter of pride for any mountaineers, who get an opportunity to visit the Himalayan kingdom.”

Earlier a rally accompanied by horse-drawn carriage, musical bands and banners of the golden jubilee celebration started from Tundikhel and went through Chhetrapati that concluded at Thamel, the posh tourist hub in Kathmandu.

Following the success of the golden jubilee celebrations of Mt Everest, the government declared the celebration of the golden jubilees of the first ascents of Nepal’s six peaks above 8000 metres.

The golden jubilee of Mt Kanchenjungha is being celebrated on May 25.