Phurba Wins Everest Marathon

Phurba Tamang (21) from Lukla has won the seventh edition of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon on May 29. Phurba, who was the runner-up last year, finished the race in 3hrs, 40 minutes and 46 seconds.

Phurba's elder brother Raj Kumar, finished runner-up with the timing of 4hrs, 7mins and 2 seconds and Sandeep Rai of Solukhumbu finished third in 4 hrs, 9 mins and 48 seconds.

The runners participated in the even despite heavy snowfall in the Everest base camp. The snowfall had almost led to the cancellation of the event. The marathon could take place after snow started melting.

In the women's category, Mingma Chemji Sherpa stood first with the timing of 5hrs, 5 mins and 31 seconds. Angfuti Sherpa and Migmafuti Sherpa were second and third completing.

Athletes of the Indian Army dominated the foreigner's category with Shyam Kesho finishing first with the timing of 5hrs, 36 mints and 46 secs. Om Kumar and T Ganapati were second and third respectively. The India athletes had prepared for the marathon at the world's highest altitude in Sikkim.

The event is organised every year to commemorate the first ascent of Mt Everest by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953.

Everest marathon kicks off

Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, an adventurous sporty event that takes place in the highest altitude of the world, has begun from Everest base camp Friday morning.

More than a hundred participants with 52 international runners from a dozen countries including India, Germany, USA, Austria, England and Canada are taking part in the event.

The event is organised every year on May 29 to pay tribute to Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Late Sir Edmund Hillary-the first persons to summit Mt. Everest in May 29, 1953.

The 56th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Everest is being celebrated Friday. Adventure Sports Tourism Society started this event in 2003 on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the successful ascent of Everest.

Runners will be awarded in three categories. The first, second and third runners to finish from general category will get USD 1000, 500 and 300 respectively, while from the international category the first, second and third will get USD 500, 300 and 200 respectively.

The event is famous worldwide as a marathon that takes place in the highest altitude of the world. It starts from the Everest expedition base camp, just below Khumbu Ice-fall, which is above 5000m from the sea-level and finishes at Chor.

The 42 km long marathon route passes through glaciers, moraines, monasteries, monuments, chortens and suspension bridges all located at high elevations. The famous Tyangboche Monastery also lies on the route. The route is the same one used by pioneer mountaineers Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Late Sir Edmund Hillary during their expedition in 1953.

Govt, mountaineering organisations to mark Everest Day amid grand celebration

Nepalmountainnews Report 28 May 2009

The Government of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board and various organizations involved in mountaineering have jointly vowed to mark the Everest Day on May 29, Friday amid various programmes across the country and abroad. The day is organized to celebrate the first Everest ascent by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary.According to the organizing committee formed to make the programme a success, celebrations in Kathmandu will begin from the early hours of the day. A procession of various tourism organisations will assemble at Bhadrakali temple before dispersing at Thamel. Clean up programmes will be held in Lukla Airpot while a rafting festival in Trishuli river is also on cards.The biggest attraction will be the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon which will flag off at the Everest base-camp and end at Namche Bazar. The celebrations will end with a concert at Namche Bazar featuring leading artistes of the country.Apart from that six different people and organisations will also be felicitated for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of mountaineering on the day. The government will confer two individuals or organisations with Sagarmatha Award and Tenzing-Hillay award, which carries a purse of Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively. Likewise, Trekking Association of Nepal (TAN) will honour two journalists with TAN Journalist Award. Each will receive Rs. 25,000 in cash along with a plaque. TAN will also provide education award amounting Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 for two -- one for a staff of TAN (Rs. 50,000) and another for an expert in mountaineering. Similarly, Pasang Lamu Foundation has joined in the cause by providing Rs. 25,000 for an individual who has worked for the development of Khumbu region.

Breaking News

21 May 2009
On his 19th ascent to Mount Everest, world record holding mountaineer Apa Sherpa today (21st May, 2009) sent an urgent plea for climate action from the top of the world. Reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain around 08:00 am Nepal time, he placed a WWF banner saying: "Stop Climate Change - Let the Himalayas Live!"The expedition reminds world leaders of their responsibility towards preserving the Himalayas as a global heritage, and calls on them to strike a global deal to fight climate change at the Copenhagen Climate Summit this December.

The expedition is a part of the Climate for Life Campaign, which aims at raising awareness on climate change impacts in the Himalayas.At the summit, Apa also installed a Bumpa (sacred vase) personally blessed by the Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche (Buddhist spiritual leader), containing 400 different sacred ingredients intended to restore the sanctity of the Himalayan beyul (sacred valleys) against negative impacts of rapid environmental changes.Congratulating WWF and Apa, Mr. Ganesh Sah, Nepal's Minister for Environment, Science and Technology said: "The well-being of the Himalayas is crucial for economic development in Nepal. It's only by coming together that we can deliver this message emphatically to the world."Apa Sherpa has experienced dangerous impacts firsthand, witnessing the changing landscapes of the Himalayas in the wake of climate change during his decades of mountaineering experience, and having been a victim personally of its disastrous consequences.Apa carried the WWF Banner during the Eco Everest Expedition, which is led by two-time Everest Summiteer Dawa Steven Sherpa, a passionate advocate of climate change issues and also a WWF Climate Witness.

"WWF salutes the efforts of Apa and Dawa for taking the climate change message to the top of the world and being ambassadors for WWF's Climate for Life campaign", said Mr. Anil Manandhar, WWF Nepal Country Representative. "Now, the time has come for the world to redirect its attention towards the Himalayas."