Nepali mountaineer set to scale Mt. Qomolangma for record 16th time

Nepali mountaineer Apa Sherpa is all set to scale Mt. Qomolangma for the 16th time and break his own record of maximum ascents, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association said here Wednesday.

According to Ang Tshering Sherpa, this year will again see some famous mountaineers attempting peaks from Nepali side.

Junko Tabei, the first woman Mt. Qomolangma mountaineer, is expected to climb Mt. Manaslu, which will be her first attempt on the 8,163 m-high peak, the president said.

The golden jubilee will be observed on May 9 for the mountain. The 67-year old Japanese mountaineer Tabei is expected to arrive in Kathmandu on April 15.

"Her successful ascent of the peak will definitely bring Nepal the much-needed international publicity, especially when the country's tourism is going downhill," he said.

Meanwhile, 75-year old Japanese woman Toshiko Uchida, who aims to scale the world's highest peak, flew to Lukla, the Base Camp Tuesday.

"If she succeeds, she will be the oldest person and not just the oldest woman to have scaled the summit," Ang said.

Uchida is a member of a nine-member expedition comprising climbers from South Korea, India, Japan and Nepal, according to Ang.

Source: Xinhua