Chinese team becomes first this spring to summit Mt Everest, Lhotse

KATHMANDU: A climbing team with a single Chinese member, Shi Jungi, has become the first this spring to summit both Sagarmatha, widely known as Mt Everest, and Lhotse in a single continuous ascent, expedition organisers said.

The Himalayan Mountaineering Expedition reported the team reached the summit of Everest at 8:56 am on May 14 and later reached the summit of adjacent Lhotse at 11:25 am on May 18. Nepali guides Ningma Dorje Tamang and Dawa Nuru Sherpa were part of the support Sherpa team for the Chinese climber.

The expedition organisers said the team took an unconventional route after the Everest summit, descending to Camp II rather than remaining at Camp IV in the so-called 'death zone' before making the final ascent of Lhotse. The expedition noted this approach departs from the standard strategy most climbers use for Everest–Lhotse double summit attempts.

Utsav Pathak, expedition operator, said, "The team is supposedly the first this spring season to complete successful ascents of both the 8,848.86 metres Everest and the 8,516 metres Lhotse."

The spring climbing season on Everest has also seen other notable milestones. Veteran Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa scaled Everest for a record 32nd time last Sunday, breaking his own world record for the most ascents of the world’s tallest mountain.

On the same day, Lhakpa Sherpa, widely known as the 'Mountain Queen,' reached the summit for the 11th time, setting a new record for the highest number of Everest ascents by a female climber.

(With inputs from RSS)