Just yesterday, I wrote that, miraculously, there had been no fatalities during the current rush to the summit of Mount Everest. Now, the Nepalese website The Tourism Times reports that at least two Indian climbers have died during their descent -apparently from high altitude sickness.
Both had reportedly reached the highest point on earth at 8,849 meters yesterday, Thursday, it said. One of them died at the site of the former Hillary Step, about 100 meters below the summit, while the other passed away at Camp 2 at 6,400 meters. These were the fourth and fifth fatalities of this year’s spring season on Mount Everest.
31st Everest summit success for Pa Dawa Sherpa, 20th for Kenton Cool
Numerous successful ascents are being reported again today from Everest and neighboring Lhotse. The Austrian expedition operator Furtenbach Adventures informs that 42 team members reached the summit of Everest. Among them was the British climber Kenton Cool. For the 52-year-old, it was his 20th summit success. No other climber not from Nepal has stood on the “Roof of the World” more often.
Pasang Dawa Sherpa, better known as Pa Dawa Sherpa, reached the summit of Everest today for the second time this season. For the 49-year-old Sherpa from the village of Pangboche in the Khumbu region, who works for the operator TAG Nepal, this was the 31st Everest summit success of his career. Only Kami Rita Sherpa has summited Everest one more time than Pa Dawa.
Furdiki Sherpa reaches summit of Lhotse in a single-day push
Nepalese mountaineer Furdiki Sherpa ascended from base camp at approximately 5,300 meters to the 8,516-meter-high summit of Lhotse on the same day and immediately began her descent. Her goal is to be back at base camp within 24 hours.