KATHMANDU: Seven-time Everest summitter Da Ongchhu Sherpa has said that world climbers summiting Mt Denali, the highest peak in North America, are very eager to attempt to climb different Nepali mountains in the upcoming climbing seasons.

Sherpa (35), who successfully climbed Mt Denali (6,190m) this season, returned to Nepal last week after receiving climbing certificate. “Mt Denali is comparatively a tough mountain to climb because of its location and as well as the local climbing rules,” he said, adding that he was only a Nepali climber of a 11-member expedition managed by the Mountain Trip.

The professional mountain guide shared that Mt Denali hosted hundreds of climbers in the season while most of the foreign climbers aimed to visit Nepal in the upcoming seasons. “The government as well as stakeholders must implement a cohesive plan to rebuild country’s tourism which was severely hit by the devastating earthquake and its aftershocks,” he said.

Sherpa, a permanent resident of Lokhim VDC in Solukhumbu, successfully climbed Mt Cho-Oyu, Mera Peak and Putha Hiuchuli among other mountains in his 15-year-long mountaineering career.

Sherpa also informed that he stood atop the world’s highest peak seven times from 2005 to 2013.