Dispute over Everest record
2003-06-18 13:49
Kathmandu - A Nepalese Sherpa who last month broke the record for the fastest ascent of Everest has been accused of cheating - by the man who made the second quickest climb.
Lakpa Gelu Sherpa reached the summit of the 8 848 metre peak from Base Camp in a time of 10 hours 56 minutes on May 26.
He clipped almost two hours off the record of 12 hours 45 minutes that had been set just three days before by Pemba Dorje Sherpa, 25.
The previous record of 16 hours 56 minutes had been set in 2000 by the legendary Sherpa Babu Chhiri.
But Pemba has written to Nepal's Ministry of Tourism, which verifies Everest records, complaining that Lakpa's claim is false because he was seen climbing towards Hillarys Step, which is several hundred metres below the summit, when he had said he was at the top.
Lakpa, 36, defended his record, saying he had witnesses who saw him at the peak at the time he was supposed to be there.
Necessary proof
"My record ascent and descent is true and confirmed by a number of Sherpa climbers who scaled the mountain at almost the same time as I reached the top," Lakpa said.
"I have already submitted the necessary proof of the climbers I met on the summit and 17 climbers of a Nepal-India joint Everest team who I met near the Hillary Step, to the tourism ministry," he said.
He said that veteran climber Appa Sherpa, who on the same day broke the record for the most number of ascents of Everest with his 13th climb, was at the peak 15 minutes before him.
"Appa helped me to erect a metal replica of the Nepalese national flag on the summit of Everest," Lhakpa said.
He said Appa was the best person to give evidence for him, but he was currently on a visit to the United States.
Ganesh Karki, head of the Tourism Ministry's Mountaineering Divison, said they were investigating the complaint.
Prime witness
"We are waiting for the return of Appa Sherpa from the US, who is a prime witness of the record ascent by Lakpa on May 26," he said.
"We have also summoned Pemba Dorji Sherpa to substantiate his proof," he added.
Most climbers can take weeks to get from Base Camp to the summit.
Lakpa and Pemba were helped in their speedy ascents by the fact that several hundred climbers were bidding to get to the top of Everest for celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the first conquest of the mountain by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953.
The crowds on the mountain had helped compact the snow on the main climbing routes via the south col, while ropes and ladders have been fixed in place.
Several other records were also broken this year including ascents by the youngest and oldest climbers and the first by a black person - South African game ranger Sibusiso Vilane.