KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 3
A team of three climbers has climbed Mount Baruntse on October 30. The climbers stood atop the 7,129m peak of the mountain at around 11:30 am, according to Seven Summit Treks (SST),the expedition partner and a leading Kathmandu-based trekking and expedition company.
The expedition team showcased the firm spirit of teamwork overcoming formidable challenges and extreme conditions to summit the mountain, SST added.
The summiteers are Valentin Vincent Olivier (France), Dawa Phinjo Lama Bhote (Nepal) and Nurpu Bhote (Nepal). Dawa Phinjo is a IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations) guide and Swiss train helicopter long line rescue specialist. He has been an instrumental member of Nepal's search and rescue responder team of Nepal since 2013.
Located in the Khumbu region of Nepal, Baruntse is known for its challenging climbing routes and is a popular destination for climbers. The peak was first scaled on 30 May, 1954 through the south ridge by Colin Todd and Geoff Harrow of a New Zealand expedition led by Sir Edmund Hillary. The first ascent of the east ridge took place on 27 April, 1980 by Lorenzo Ortas, Javier Escartin, Jeronimo Lopez, all from Spain, Carlos Buhler (USA) of a Spanish expedition led by Juan Lose Diaz Ibanez.
The mountain is considered the best preparation peak for climbers aiming to climb a mountain above 8000m. Baruntse is known to have had a lower summit success rate in comparison with other peaks, although it has had relatively high number of summit attempts. This is blamed for factors like its steep slopes, technical difficulties and unpredictable weather conditions in particular. Mountaineers are required to have prior high-altitude and mountaineering experiences.
