KATHMANDU: Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki today said that he would continue his bid to climb Mt Everest in the next autumn.

Talking to journalists in Kathmandu, Kuriki (33), who abandoned two attempts near the final camp of the world’s highest peak this season, shared that it was too tough for him to reach to the summit due to deep snow and strong wind.

“I realised that even if I kept going to the summit, I wouldn’t be able to go back to the final camp alive in the strong wind,” he said.

Kuriki had given up the fifth attempt after four unsuccessful autumn climbing attempts in the previous years as he lost his nine fingers to frostbite in 2012 before abandoning the final summit push.

'Everest is safe even after quake'

“Mt Everest and the entire trekking route up to the base camp are safe in the aftermath of April earthquake,” he said, appealing the world travellers to visit Nepal as the country needed tourists now more than ever.

According to him, he had reached the south summit point on October 9. He gave up his second attempt of this season saying it was too windy and took much time to go in deep snow.

His first attempt of the season also remained unsuccessful after finding it very tough to move up to the deep snow above Camp IV on September 27 as he was heading to the top of the world’s highest mountain without support staff and supplemental oxygen.

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“I will certainly promote Nepal in my country by sharing the ground realities that I experienced during a month-long stay in Khumbu region,” he said. “It is extremely beautiful, safe and sound as always.”

Tikaram Gurung, Managing Director at Bochi Bochi Treks, which handled the season’s only Everest expedition, said that Kuriki was supported by a photographer – Masaru Kadotani - and a few Sherpas up to Camp II. “Kuriki will leave for Japan tomorrow,” he added.

The government has provided USD 25,000 to Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee to employ its icefall doctors to fix ropes and ladders along the climbing route in the autumn season to facilitate the sole Japanese climber.

According to the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mt Everest has recorded only three successful autumn summits -- American climber Eric Larsen and his team in 2010, American climber Dave Hahn-led team and Slovenian extreme skier Davo Karnicar summitted Mt Everest in 2006 and 2000 respectively -- in the last 15 years.