On the occasion of the first ascent of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, exactly 70 years ago, Nepal honored its mountain guides and porters from the Sherpa people in a ceremony. Deputy Tourism Minister Sushila Sripali Thakuri presented more than 100 of them with an award on Monday. These included mountain guide Kamit Rita Sherpa, who has climbed Everest 28 times so far, and Sanu Sherpa, who was the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice, according to the Nepal Mountaineering Association. Local mountain guides are an important part of the expeditions.
On Monday, there was also a rally in the capital Kathmandu of hundreds of people holding placards with pictures of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. The two climbers had made history on May 29, 1953, when they reached the roof of the world at an altitude of 8848.86 meters, which until then had been considered invincible by many. Since Hillary's death in 2008, an International Mount Everest Day has been celebrated in Nepal every year on March 29.
Popular destination among mountaineers
The mountain continues to attract hundreds of mountaineers from all over the world every year. In this year's spring season, which ends in June, 478 people have received a permit, according to the Nepalese Ministry of Tourism. This is the highest number of permits ever issued in a season. In Nepal, a permit costs the equivalent of around 10,000 euros, and the entire expedition between 40,000 and 100,000 euros.
At least twelve climbers have lost their lives on Mount Everest so far in the spring season, and several more are missing, a local official told the German Press Agency.
In total, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Nepal earned over 27.1000 million dollars (about 5.8 million euros) in the spring season by issuing climbing permits for Everest and 5 other mountains to more than 4 climbers.