Mingma Gyalje Sherpa climbs Gasherbrum II without supplemental oxygen (in video)

KATHMANDU: An international mountain guide has successfully climbed the world’s 13th highest mountain in the Karakoram Range last week, becoming the first Nepali climber to make the most ascents of 8,000-metre peaks without using supplemental oxygen.

According to him, climbers including Vernon Edward Tejas, Naoki Ishikhawa, Hari Thomas Mix, Tamting Sherpa, Thundu Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Kami Temba Sherpa and Passang Namgel Sherpa also made it to summit of Gasherbrum II.

Sherpa, who completed 13 of 14 mountains above 8,000m, said that he aims to become the first Nepali mountaineer to climb all eight-thousanders without the aid of supplemental oxygen.

“I have a plan to complete remaining two mountains - Mt Everest and Mt Shishapangma – without using supplemental oxygen by next year,” Sherpa, an IFMGA/UIAGM certified guide, shared. Sherpa, however, climbed Mt Everest for the fifth time – 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016 – but he had used bottled oxygen while standing atop the world’s highest peak.

The two-time K2 summiteer also said that he would also attempt to complete all the Seven Summits, the highest peaks of each of the world's continents next year. Sherpa is also the first summiteer on Mt Cheki-Go (6,257m), Mt Bamongo (6,400m) and Mt Chobuje (6,685m) via west.

MINGMA GYALJE’S SUMMIT RECORD:

Mt Everest - 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016

K2 – 2014 and 2017

Kanchenjunga - 2013

Lhotse - 2018

Makalu - 2017

Cho Oyu - 2008

Dhaulagiri - 2017

Manaslu - 2009, 2011, 2016 and 2018

Nanga Parbat - 2017

Annapurna - 2015

Gasherbrum I - 2016

Broad Peak - 2018

Gasherbrum II - 2019