Tenji Sherpa scales Mt Everest in memory of Ueli Steck

KATHMANDU: A 27-year-old Sherpa climber scaled Mt Everest this morning in honour of the world’s famous alpinist who lost his life in an accident near Camp II on Mt Everest last year.

Tenjing (Tenji) Sherpa of Gudel, Solukhumbu made it to the roof of the world at around 9:45 am without using supplementary oxygen, according to Iswari Poudel, Managing Director at Himalayan Guides Nepal Pvt Ltd.

French climber Jonathan Griffith, who was filming Tenji’s climb, has also scaled the mountain, according to Poudel.

Being the last team of the season on Mt Everest, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa of Chheskam, Solukhumbu and Pimba Aingchuk Bhote of Hatiya, Sankhuwasabha also reached the summit point. “Lakpa Dendi, who made third summit on Mt Everest this season, scaled the world’s highest peak this morning without using supplementary oxygen,” Poudel said.

Tenji said that he had dedicated his climb to Swiss Machine climber Ueli Steck who died after falling from Mt Nuptse's north face on April 30 last year. Tenji, who worked as a climbing partner of Ueli last season, also gives sole credit to the legendary alpinist for boosting up his professional climbing career.

“Tenji along with his team is on the way to South Col,” Poudel said. “Following the footsteps of the greatest climber of his generations, Tenji would attempt to climb Mt Lhotse later today if weather allows.” Sherpa wanted to continue the unfinished bid of the world’s famous alpinist Ueli Steck, he added.

Other two climbers -- Romanian Horia Colibășanu and Peter Hámor from Slovakia -- however, decided to abandon their bid on Mt Everest after they reached at 7,400 m, according to the expedition organiser. The climbers failed to continue their attempt from never repeated West Ridge/Hornbein Couloir route without using supplemental oxygen due to bad weather, an official at Cho-Oyu Treks confirmed.

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