Congratulations !!! Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 ( Team 1 & 2 )

2013-03-01

WRITTEN BY ASIAN TREKKING ON 31 MARCH 2013. POSTED IN NEWS

Congratulations !!! Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition in 2013 ( Team 1 & 2 )

To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey Sherpa, we have named this year’s Eco Everest Expedition in honour of this important day.

This year also the expedition is being led by my son Dawa Steven Sherpa and as always he will continue his clean up campaign.

Furthermore, he has also been nominated by Expedition Operators Association of Nepal as one of the two task force members responsible for overseeing the rope fixing and coordinating summit schedules of the various expeditions on Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse. I hope that by coordinating and communicating between the teams we will be able to avoid most of the congestion and thereby reduce accidents and deaths.

This year, Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition has two teams with a total of 22 members and 38 sherpas and Cooks. Under Dawa Steven’s leadership our Expedition Doctor and Base camp Manager is Dr. Nima Namgyal Sherpa, our Sirdar is Naga Dorjee Sherpa and Head Cook is Mr. Chandra Tamang. We have 25 Climbing Sherpas in total and 11 Base Camp and Camp 2 cooks. Asian Trekking is also happy to be deeply involved in the planning of the festivities and sponsoring some of the celebration events in the Khumbu.

Please click the following link to view the expedition status on map :

1. Dawa Steven Sherpa (GPS Device 1 Map)
2. Lavaraj Singh Dharamshaktu (GPS Device 2 Map)

Tuesday, 21 May 2013:

Congratulations !!! Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 Team 1 & 2 members and climbing sherpas reached the top of Mt. Everest who are as follows:

Kanta Devi of India and Pasang Temba Sherpa on the summit at 05:15 am.

Love Raj Dharamshaktu of India and Ki Dorjee Sherpa summitted at 06:00 am.

This is 5th time to summit of Mt. Everest for the climbing leader of our Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Exp.2013 Team 2, Loveraj Dharamshaktu. He has broke his own record to be the Indian with most summit on Mt. Everest. Earlier·this week, leader of our Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Exp. 2013 team 1, David Liano also reached his 5th time on the top Mt. Everest with Asian Trekking.

Ramlal of India, Pasang Rita Sherpa and Phurba Sherpa (Rolwaling) summited at 05:17 am.

Rodrigo Chadded Raineri of Brazil and Sonam Tshering Sherpa summited at 10:20 am.

Arunima Sinha from India, ·Nima Kancha Sherpa and Pemba Tshering Sherpa summited at 10:55 am.

Weather conditions are good and their conditions are also reported to be good.

Asian Trekking family extends hearty Congratulations to all of them and wishes safe descent.

Monday, 20 May 2013:

The following members and high altitude climbing sherpas of Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 Team 1 & 2 reached South Col 7950m(Camp 4). They are schedule to go to summit to night at 7:30 pm and plan to reach summit tomorrow morning, Tuesday, 21st May.

1. Mr. Carlos Eduardo Santalena
2. Mr. Carlos Eduardo Elizeu Canellas
3. Pasang Rita Sherpa (Pata)
4. Mr. Joel Szmelsztayn Kriger
5. Phur Geljen Sherpa
6. Mr. Rodrigo Chaddad Raineri
7. Sonam Tsering Sherpa
8. Mr. Loveraj Singh Dharamshaktu
9. Ki Dorjee Sherpa
10. Ms. Kanta Devi
11. Pasang Temba Sherpa
12. Mr. Ramlal
13. Pasang Rita Sherpa (Parita)
14. Phurba (Rolwaling)
15. Ms. Arunuma Sinha
16. Nima Kanchha Sherpa,
17. Pasang (Thamo)
18. Pemba Tshiring SherpaThere are around 135 people going for summit attempt. So they decided to leave early to avoid the traffic jams.

For Summit Target on 22nd May:

1. Douglas Scarborough
2. Phurba Sherpa
3. Ngima Dorji

For LHOTSE summit Target on 22nd MAy:

1. John Griber
2. Samden Bhote

Also, ANDREZ WOJDA had to quit due to bad health condition. He is returning to BC today from camp 2.

Sunday, 19th May 2013:

Congratulations !!! Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 members and Sherpas reached the summit as follows:

Allan Johnson and Tenjin Dorji Sherpa on summit at 5:00 am

Horacio Daniel Galanti and Ang Mingma Sherpa on summit at 7:00

Horacio Luis Cunieti and Purba Sherpa on summit at 7:00

Sushen Mahato and Phura Jangbu Sherpa on summit at 7:00 am.

Udo Ing. Ebner and Phura Nuru Sherpa on summit at 7:30

Dr. Nima Namgyal Sherpa and Nawang Kalden Sherpa on summit at 7:30 am

Barnaba Borbely and Pemba Tshering Sherpa on summit at 8:20 am

Dr. Nima Namgyal Sherpa is now the first Nepali Doctor to summit Mt. Everest.

Asian Trekking Family extends hearty Congratulation to them and wishes for safe descent.

The following 14 member and sherpa team of Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 Team 1 & 2 left Camp 4 (South Col 7950m) at 7:30 pm today. They are on their way to the summit. Weather condition is good.

Name list of Members and HAS for summit attempt team:

1. Dr. Nima Namgyal Sherpa – will lead team the first summit attempt team
2. Ngawang Kalden Sherpa   – Assist by
3. Horacio Daniel Galanti
4. Ang Mingma Sherpa
5. Horacio Luis Cunietti
6. Phurba Sherpa
7. Allan Arthur Johnson
8. Tenjing Dorji Sherpa
9. Barnabas Borbely
10. Pemba Tshiring Sherpa( Maila)
11. Udo Ing. Ebner
12. Phura Nuru Sherpa
13. Susen Mahato
14. Phura Jangbu Sherpa

There are many people (around 121 total) so they decided to leave early to avoid traffic jams.

Second wave has been halted in Camp 2 and will summit on 21st May.

Friday, 17 May 2013:

The following members and Clibing Sherpa of Eoc Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 reached South Col (Camp 4, 7950m) today after some hours rest, they are schedule to go summit to night at 9 pm and plan to reach the summit in the morning of Saturday, 18th May.

Name list of Members and HAS for first summit attempt team on 18 May 2013:

1. Dr. Nima Namgyal Sherpa – will lead team the first summit attempt team
2. Ngawang Kalden Sherpa   – Assist by
3. Horacio Daniel Galanti
4. Ang Mingma Sherpa
5. Horacio Luis Cunietti
6. Phurba Sherpa
7. Allan Arthur Johnson
8. Tenjing Dorji Sherpa
9. Barnabas Borbely
10. Pemba Tshiring Sherpa( Maila)
11. Udo Ing. Ebner
12. Phura Nuru Sherpa
13. Anita Devi
14. Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa
15. Susen Mahato
16. Phura Jangbu Sherpa

Friday, 16 May 2013:

The following members and Clibing Sherpa of Eoc Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 reached Camp 3 today and they are plan to move to South Col (7950m) tomorrow the 17th May. After some hours rest, they are schedule to go to summit tomorrow night and plan to reach the summit in the morning of 18th May..

Name list of Members and HAS for first summit attempt team on 18 May 2013:

1. Dr. Nima Namgyal Sherpa – will lead team the first summit attempt team
2. Ngawang Kalden Sherpa   – Assist by
3. Horacio Daniel Galanti
4. Ang Mingma Sherpa
5. Horacio Luis Cunietti
6. Phurba Sherpa
7. Allan Arthur Johnson
8. Tenjing Dorji Sherpa
9. Barnabas Borbely
10. Pemba Tshiring Sherpa( Maila)
11. Udo Ing. Ebner
12. Phura Nuru Sherpa
13. Anita Devi
14. Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa
15. Susen Mahato
16. Phura Jangbu Sherpa

Monday, 13 May 2013:

We are ready for summit. First team will attempt 18th May and second Team will attempt 20th May.

First team : Allan Jonhson,Horacio Galanti, Horacio Cunietti, Udo Ebner, Andrzej Wojda, Barnabas Borbely, Anita Devi, Sushen Mahato, Dr Nima Namgyal. Horacio Galanti, Allan Johnson are at C1, Andrzej Wojda, Anita Devi, Sushen Mahato, Horacio Cunietti will leave tonight for Camp 2.Udo Ebner , Barnabas and Dr. Nima Namgyal will leave tomorrow night for Camp 2 and all members will sleep at Camp 3 on 16 May, Camp 4 on 17 May,summit push on same night and 18th morning summit.

Second team : Carlos Canellas, Carlos Santalena, Rodrigo Ranieri, Joel Kriger, Douglas Scarborough, Arunima Sinha, Ramlal, Kanta Devi and Lovvraj Dharamshaktu.

Monday, 12 May 2013:

Message from Dawa Steven Sherpa: “This year we have already collected more than 700kgs of garbage including a rotor blade and landing gear (bottom left in picture) of Italian army helicopter that crashed in camp 2 in 1973”.

Monday, 10 May 2013:

11 Climbing Sherpas belonging to various expedition team along with David Tait and his companion climbing sherpa Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa of Khumjung have successfully fixed rope to the summit. Amongst the 11 Climbing Sherpas Pemba Tshering Sherpa and Sera Gyalzen Sherpa are from Asian Trekking.

Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 Climbing Sherpas Pemba Tshering Sherpa and Sera Gyalzen Sherpa who were part of the rope fixing team reached the summit at 11:55 am.

Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 Team 1 Leader David Liano and high altitude climbing sherpa Samden Bhote arrived south col (7950m) at 12:30 pm. Now they are resting and at 9:00 pm tonight they are planning to leave for summit attempt.

Horacio Cunietti , Horacio Galanti, Barnabas, Allan, Douglas, John Griber, Arunima , Susen, Kanta and Lovraj are all at base camp for rest and recuperation before the summit push.Carlos Canellas, Carlos Santallena , Anita , Ramlal Rodrigo and Joel are at Pheriche.

Monday, 7 May 2013:

Carlos Canellas, Carlos Santallena, Anita and Ramlal went down for rest today. Rodrigo and Joel will leave tomorrow and join the Carlos. Horacio Cunati went to C2 today and will be back after tagging C3. Douglas is at C2 after sleeping at C3 and will be back tomorrow. Rest of us are in BC

Arunima and Susen are in good health resting in BC and short day hikes to near by places to stay fit. No intention of going down the valley for rest.They will try to attempt in the first window which may not seem likely before 15 May as of now.

Monday, 2 May 2013:

Carlos Canellas, Carlos Santalena are both at camp 2 . They plan to touch south col if weather conditions are suitable in the next few days.David Liano is at camp 3.

Barnabas, Udo Ebner, Rodrigo, Joel are going to camp 2 and tag camp 3 as their final rotation.

Horacio Galanti, Horacio Cunietti, Allan Johnson and Andrzej Wojda are back to base camp after sleeping at camp 3 for their final rotation and will wait for the final summit push.

Indian climbers consisting of Arunima, Susen, Kanta, Anita, Ramlal and leader Lovraj reached the bottom of Lhotse face ( 1 hr from camp 2 ) and have spent 2 nights at camp 2. They are also now acclimatized and ready for the summit push whenever the weather conditions are suitable.They are at base camp for rest and recuperation.Arunima is doing well so far and she will have to work harder when she climbs the Lhotse face towards camp 4 and also during summit push.

Sunday, 28 April 2013:

Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 2 team of all Indian members reched camp 2.

Sunday, 25 April 2013:

Carlos Canellas and Carlos Santelana started early in the morning from base camp and reached camp 2. Horacio Galanti , Horacio Cunietti , Udo Ebner, Allan Johnson, Andrzej Wojda started this morning and reached camp 1 and will spend the night at camp 1. Tomorrow they are going to camp 2.Stephan and Natalie, Douglas, Barnabas, Rodrigo and Joel started this morning from camp 1 and reached camp 2. David Liano is at camp 2 since Tuesday the 23rd April. Our 16 high altitude climbing sherpas including Sirdar Naga Dorje and 3 cooks are at camp 2 and 5 high altitude sherpas are at camp 1.

Indian climbers comprising of Arunima, Susen, Kanta, Anita and Ramlal are at base camp. Under the leadership of Lovraj Dharmashaktu along with 5 high altitude climbing sherpas scheduled to go to camp 1 tomorrow and sleep at camp 1. They will go to camp 2 on 27 April.

Day 14, Wednesday 17 April 2013:

Everest Base Camp Puja

Breakfast this morning is interrupted by the shouts and excited sounds of the Sherpa camp above. Soon enough our Sirdar, Naga Dorjee and Base Camp Manager Dr. Nima Namgyal calls us forward to take part in Puja ceremony.

With climbing equipment and prayer flags to be blessed we scramble up the slope.· Suddenly all that noise through breakfast becomes understandable, there now stands a large stone alter adorned in prayer flags, candles, incense sticks and offerings of rice, taltersampa and assorted chocolate bars……

Ushered into position we sit crossed legged in front of the granite alter, beyond we gaze upon the western shoulder of Everest and the Khumbu ice field.· The ceremony is led by Phurba Sherpa, who happens to be a Lama released by his monastery for the climbing season. Knelt in front of the alter Phurba is reading aloud from Tibetan scripts, slowly but surely his chanting silences the crowd.

Occasionally laughter breaks out as the Sherpas share jokes becoming at times light hearted; above the sky is blue and the prayer flags flutter in the wind. All the time my legs are screaming at me to get up, looking around I can see the grimaces of Arunima Sihna, Sushen Mahato, Ramlal and Sahana confirm I am not alone. Douglas, Horacios Cunietti, Horacios Galanti, Allan, Carlos, Carlito and Rodrigo are beginning to look a little pained. Only if I could stretch my little legs.

To one side of the alter a fire is lit of juniper and incense sticks, the smoke is thick and acrid as it hangs heavy like gun smoke amongst us. Eyes watering, coughing, I can here Loveraj, Barnabas, Stephan, Natalia, Andre. Kanta, Anita and Joel moaning as they try to adjust their numb neither regions.

Encouraged by the Sherpa’s we throw rice towards the alter, drinks are then brought forward and snacks are shared amongst the climbers. Phurbas’s chanting increases in volume as he asks Everest’s guardian spirits for our safe passage and return.

As a finishing touch a flag pole is erected from the centre of the alter, it is adorned with more prayer flags that are then ran out for over 50m in a north, east, south and west direction.· Ushered to our feet, legs screaming with joy, we stand around and gaze at the magnificence of what we have been part of…

Day 11, Sunday 14 April 2013:

At last the day has come when we can finally unpack and settle into a much needed routine, but before this just one more trek as we leave the Yak fuelled lodge, coughing and spluttering we move out.

The trek follows the lateral moraine beside the Khumbu Glacier, all the way to our right hand side we can see the vast glacier as it slowly moves down the valley.· The air is becoming thin and very dry, most of the team have their faces wrapped up in buffs or scarves to protect against the dreaded Khumbu cough.

Day 10, Saturday 13 April 2013:

After a much needed rest at Mingma’s Snow lion Lodge we have an early start to our day, but not before the amazing Mingma places Khada on us with her blessing for the journey ahead.

Climbing quickly out of Dingboche in no time we are looking down at the settlement of Pherice below.· The pace is quicker today, maybe it’s the introduction of our new Indian friends Arunima Sinha, Ramlal, Sushon Mahato and Udo Ebner of Austria that is forcing the pace. After their ascent of Island Peak (Imja Tse – 6127m), their bodies will be benefiting from the exposure to altitude.

A Yak herder heading our way is having a touch of bother with an unruly Yak, whilst the rest of us dive for cover, Naga Dorjee, our team Sirdar and head Sherpa nonchalantly gets the stroppy Yak in a head lock whilst a thankful herder screams a torrent of Nepalese expletives towards the now cowering Yak.

After two hours of steady trekking we stop at Toukla for refreshments, flasks of lemon tea are passed around.· Ahead of us is a 600m climb towards the Lobouche Pass memorial, here scattered around are shrines placed in memory to those climbers who lost their lives here in the Himalayas.

Finally we arrive at the Eco Lodge at Lobuche, bags dropped off in rooms, there is a very polite and organized scramble for the last shower opportunity before base camp. The place is buzzing with trekkers and climbers alike.· The rusty old iron stove in the middle of the room is the focus for many as the temperature outside plummets, to a collective cheer the stove is lit, unfortunately the preferred fuel is dried Yak dung and has the odour of, well, everything it is….

Day 9, Friday 12 April 2013:

Rest day at Dingboche for acclimatization.

Day 8, Thursday 11 April 2013:

Day 8, on the Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition and we are now above 4000m, having walked from Tengboche to Dingbohe, passing Pangboche on the way.

The day started as usual with, clear sunny weather and the lofty heights of Mt. Everest bursting up behind the daunting wall of the long Nuptse ridge and with Mt. Lhotse to its eastern side.

It was towards this massive that we head, with our first stop in Pangboche. In Pangboche, we met with Lama Geshe, who blessed us all and did a small ritual puja of protection for us Sherpas. After receiving blessings, we walked on another hour towards Shomare, the next village. Here we had our lunch, sitting outside in the sun, looking at the river dropping down the valley behind us.

After lunch, we again were on the march to our stop for the next two days, Dingboche. Dingboche is at 4400m and is a sunny village, lrgely sheltered from the winds by the bulging hilly spur that rises up at its entrance. Here we stop for two nights, to acclimatize and rest before heading up any higher.

Day 7, Wednesday 10 April 2013:

Day 7 of the Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013. We walk from Khumjung to Tengboche (Tyangboche)Leaving behind Khumjung and the legend of the Yeti, we headed down over dusty tracks to rejoin the Namche to Tengboche route. One glance back and disappearing behind us is the Chorten (temple) recently constructed in memory of Edmund Hillary.··Dawa’s grandfather traveled the world with Hillary in the early sixties, taking with them the Yeti scalp and telling the story of Himalayan creature to the world…

Hacking down the trail, passing through forests, trying desperately not to take a stumble over the rocks we made good time even surprising the Sherpa’s at our speed.··Lunch at 10am is probably not ideal so soon after breakfast, however, from this point on it was a 600m climb to Tengboche and the much talked about bakery. The river crossing complete, we headed up the trail.··Helicopters buzzing above, no doubt ferrying the lucky few direct to BC. For us purists the walk was a far more enjoyable experience and with scenery so rich and varied it was hard not to feel sorry for those passengers flying above and the fun they were missing?
Sweaty and breathless we arrived at Tengboche, a small clearing on a hilltop with a Monastery, Lodges and that bakery forming a small square where trekkers and climbers mingled amongst the porters and Yaks.··To the North are great views of Everest and the Nuptse ridge, sitting outside the bakery with a coffee and slab of chocolate cake, staring up at these mountains it was all becoming quite surreal.

Late afternoon and bell rang out over the square calling the faithful and curious to pray.··The inside of the Monastery filled quickly, one down side to this was the requirement to remove footwear, breathing in the odour of 200 trekkers’ fetid socks versus the clear fresh air outside was a no brainer, we paid our respects and left.

Day 6, Tuesday 9 April 2013 – Everest Sighted

After a lovely lie-in, we set off from Namche at the leisurely time of 10 am. The path took us immediately uphill, on the steep trail to Shyangboche, and further on to Khumjung.··The trail was busy today with many trekkers making the hike up to the hill top that separates Namche and Khumjung . The attraction of this vantage point is the amazing vista it lays out in front of the trekker who for the first time on the trip can see the unimpeded view of the impressive heights that is Mt. Everest.
Also for our team- the climbers of the Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition- they caught the first glance of the peak they aim to stand on top of before the monsoon storms arrive.··At this juncture, I feel it is also worth mentioning one amusing moment, at least for me. One of the climber, who shall remain nameless, needed my explanation- not unlike that of the much loved Irish comedy “Father Ted”- that “This mountain is small, that mountain is far away!”

And so it was, after enjoying our first view of the world highest point on earth, we then descended into the Green Valley, better known as Khumjung village. Here we enjoyed our lunch in the local bakery, almost all of us indulging in the the oven baked pizzas. After lunch we headed out to Khumjung monastery where we saw and photographed the scalp of the yeti, which is on display.

This spot, which looks out upon Mt. Everest and the embracine and magnificant open arms of Amadablam, is the spot where the Royal Marines erected a stone monument in memory of their fallen comrades, during the 2009 Khumbu Challenge expedition.

Day 5, Monday 8 April 2013:

Dawa Steven Sherpa·has indicated that you may wish to receive updates for the·Dawa Steven Sherpa – Eco Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration Expedition 2013 (Team 1 & 2)·trip currently being conducted by Asian Trekking.

We hope you enjoy following the journey and the amazing places they will visit.

Please click the link on each update to see the real-time GPS progress map for the journey and great information about some of the highlights.
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Thursday 28th March:

The·first batch of climbers of Eco Everest Expedition 2013 arrived in Kathmandu today.

From left to right : Phura Nura Sherpa, Udo Ebner, Susen Mahato, Arunima Sinha, Ramlal and Nima Kanchaa Sherpa

The team members left for Lukla this morning ( 31st March ). They are scheduled to climb Island Peak as part of their acclimatization and will reach Everest base camp on 14th April.