Kathmandu, October 9:

Tika Ram Gurung and Nima Nuru Sherpa of Shankhuwasabha and Javier Sanchet Gutierret of Spain scaled the 8,201-metre Cho Oyu, world’s sixth tallest peak, through the north face (Tibet side) at around 8 am on October 2.

With the latest ascent, Gutierret also became the first native of Malaga, Spain, to have climbed a peak having an altitude of over 8000 metres. “It was a historic moment for me and my club. I set the record at a time when our club - Sociedad Excursion de Malaga - is celebrating its centenary this year,” an excited Gutierret told this daily in Kathmandu. The expedition, organised to mark the centenary of the Spanish mountaineering club, was handled by a Nepali agency, Bochi Bochi Treks and Expeditions.

“It’s a long-cherished dream to be on top of a Himalayan peak, especially one that is over 8000 metres high. I achieved the success this time after attempts at scaling two

eight-thousanders - Mt K2 in 2003 and Gasherbrum-II - in 2000.

“Though I was born in flatlands, mountaineering and hiking have fascinated me since my childhood,” said Gutierret, 43. Gutierret has also scaled some peaks in Andes of South America. He climbed 6,100-metre Kumbakarna in 2002 and 3,481-metre Mulhacen, the highest peak in Spain.