KATHMANDU, APRIL 16
With world climbers leaving for Khumbu region to begin their climbing activities, Mt Everest is all set to receive 'high-profile clients' in the spring climbing season.
According to the expedition organisers, climbers from Elon Musk's SpaceX to the New York-based Multi Operational Security Agency Intelligence Company will be attempting to scale the world's tallest mountain while the country is preparing to mark the platinum jubilee of the first successful ascent of Mt Everest next month.
Tony Schiena, Chief Executive Officer at Multi Operational Security Agency Intelligence Company has already left for Khumbu to begin his climbing activities. Legendary climber Kami Rita Sherpa, who eyes for a record 27th ascent on Mt Everest this season, will be guiding the world's renowned counterterrorism expert and former intelligence operative from MOSAIC. "Kami Rita and Pasang Sherpa will be with Tony while climbing Everest next month," Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, Managing Director at 14 Peaks Expedition, said.
According to MOSAIC, Tony has a history of conflict area activity in various capacities and areas of support, from providing emergency training to the ANA (Afghan National Army) after a devastating attack on its newly-formed CID unit to his most recent endeavors in Iraq in support of defeating ISIS. Tony trained the Kurdish Peshmerga in the early stages of their struggle as the then, only organized force against ISIS.
"Tony's efforts made worldwide headlines due to his exposure of chemical weapon usage by ISIS against the Kurds. Embedded with the head of military intelligence, Tony investigated and collected evidence of the chemical and radiological attacks on the Kurds, trained Kurdish special forces commanders in escape & evasion, defensive tactics and counter insurgency as well as providing emergency lectures on how to secure front line bases against chemical attacks." Tony's career started during a pivotal part of world history in which South Africa averted an imminent civil war, abolishment of the oppressive system of apartheid and smooth transition of government. "This season, Tony will be attempting to scale Mt Everest from 14 Peaks Expedition, along with Kami Rita Sherpa," Tashi Lakpa said.
Elon Musk's SpaceX has also sent its high-level executive to attempt to scale the world's highest peak. Renowned climber Nirmal (Nims) Purja is leading an expedition to Tyler Carnevale, the product head of the Starlink Network Engineering team at SpaceX, for Everest and Lhotse this season. The youngest person to row the Arctic Ocean Open Waters north to south, Carnevale also holds eight Guinness World Records. In 2017, he became the youngest person to row across the Arctic Ocean. His team achieved the northernmost latitude reached by a rowing vessel, was the first to row across the Arctic Ocean North to South and was first to row across the Greenland Sea. In 2019, Carnevale became a finisher of the 34th Marathon des Sables, which is regarded as the toughest footrace on earth.
