Sherpas to set off on Everest challenge

Sherpas to set off on Everest challenge

Four Sherpa guides will attempt to climb to the top of Mount Everest in less than a week to set a new mountaineering record on the world's highest peak. The team is looking to scale the peak in five days - over the final days of winter - to surpass the record for the season which currently stands at two months and was set 27 years ago.

Team leader Tashi Lakpa, 34, said the quartet will begin the ascent of the 8,850-metre mountain on Tuesday, reach the peak on Saturday and return to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Sunday.

Mr Lapka said: "The last teams that scaled the peak in winter did it in two months time, but we are planning to do it in five days.

"We are attempting to set a new mountaineering record."

Everest is mainly scaled during the spring climbing season in April and May, when weather conditions are favourable.

Between the four climbers, Mr Lakpa has scaled Everest eight times, while the others have done it three times, twice and once.

Published: by Radio NewsHub
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