More Deaths on Everest
In the news today is the story of two more deaths on Mt Everest. This time it was experienced Australian climber Lincoln Hall who died while descending from the summit of Mount Everest. Fellow climber Thomas Weber also died after turning back from an attempt to reach the summit.
This comes only a few days after the controversial death of a British climber, left to die by other climbers who allegedly made no rescue attempt. This group of climbers included double amputee, New Zealander Mark Inglis. Mark has received sharp criticism from Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to successfully climb to the top of the world.
To read the story on ABCNews Online click here.
Postscript: CORRECTION
Good news: more recent updates from Everest have announced that Lincoln Hall has, in fact, survived and is receiving medical attention.
To read about my trekking adventures in the Everest region last January, go to the Archives section on the right and scroll down to the January posts.
More protests in Nepal
Yesterday there were more protests in Kathmandu Nepal. The demonstrations were in protest against the delays by the newly reconvened parliament in curbing King Gyanendra’s powers. Many hundreds of demonstrators burned tyres, uprooted barriers and blocked roads.
Government leaders encouraged the people to remain calm and to be patient because the new parliament will curb the king’s rule within the next few days.
When I visited Nepal in January there was general unease and very limited protests. I saw nothing like the violent demonstrations that have occured over the last month or so.
To read about my adventures, including trekking in the Everest region, go to the Archives section of this blog.
Double amputee conquers Everest
New Zealand climber Mark Inglis has successfully become the first double amputee to reach the summit of Mt Everest in Nepal. Mark had both legs amputated below the knee in 1982. This was the result of frostbite while climbing Mt Cook in NZ. Mark used specially adapted carbon fibre legs in his climbing attempt. It was 53 years ago this month that his famous compatriot Sir Edmund Hillary was first successful in climbing Everest.
Mark’s efforts far out strip my own “attempt” on Everest back in January of this year. I joined a trekking group that walked from Lukla to Tengboche, barely half way to the summit. Read my blog of this trek by going to the Archives section on the right.
Celebrations in Nepal
There have been massive celebrations today in Nepal over the king’s capitulation when he declared that parliament would reconvene on Friday for the first time in nearly four years. Nepal is a country struggling to come into the modern world and has seen contant civil unrest and conflict over the last decade. This era has seen over 13000 deaths. The last three weeks have been particularly uneasy with riots and protests in the capital Kathmandu.
To read about my adventures in Nepal in January of this year, including trekking the Himalayas, go to the Archives section of this blog.
Unrest in Nepal
It saddens me to hear or read about in the news of the current political turmoil in Nepal. There have been numerous protests, riots and even deaths in recent days. Country wide curfews have been put in place and these are severely damaging the economy of a country struggling to develop. The trouble is particularly damaging to the tourism industry which has been an integral part of its economy.
My Experiences in Nepal
I spent nearly four weeks in Nepal in January of this year. I was staggered by the amazing beauty of the country. Tourism has become the life blood of this emerging nation. It can ill afford such turmoil. I would dearly love to return to visit other parts of Nepal, but the current trouble discourages me from going. Other tourists must feel the same.
To read about my recent trip to Nepal, including trekking the Everest region of the Himalayas, go to the archives section of this blog.