85-year-old prepares for Everest climb
Great-grandfather hopes to regain record
KATHMANDU, Nepal — A Nepali who was once the oldest climber to scale Mount Everest is attempting to regain the title, at age 85.
Min Bahadur Sherchan plans to climb the 8,850-metre peak next month during a window of favourable weather on the summit. He hopes the climb will help him spread a message of peace.
“I want to be the oldest person to scale Everest again to be an inspiration for humankind, a boost for the elderly people and an encouragement for youths,” Sherchan said Wednesday at his home in Kathmandu. “It will be a message for everyone that age is no obstacle to achieving their dreams.”
The grandfather of 17 and great-grandfather of six first scaled Everest in May 2008, when he was 76. His record was broken in 2013 by then 80-yearold Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura.
Sherchan’s attempt to climb Everest in 2013 was cut short because of financial problems and delays in getting the climbing permit. Another try in 2015 was cancelled after an avalanche, triggered by devastating earthquake, swept the base camp, killing 19 people just a day before he reached the site.
“I am confident that I will succeed this time. I have no problems that could stop me from climbing Everest and the only problem could be weather,” Sherchan said. He added that he has no respiratory problems and his blood pressure is normal.
Being born in the mountains, he has one big advantage over most climbers: He is used to the altitude. High-altitude sickness can be fatal for people who are not used to the thin air and low oxygen levels. Sherchan said he is worried only about the 11 pounds he gained in the past few months.
“I am not scared of climbing, but the only part I fear is the part between base camp and Camp 1, which is very dangerous,” Sherchan said.
That stretch includes the dreaded Khumbu Icefall, where climbers use aluminum ladders and ropes to navigate around deep crevasses amid tall ice blocks.
Sherchan’s love of mountaineering began in 1960 when he was assigned by the Nepalese government as a liaison officer for a Swiss team climbing Mount Dhaulagiri. He became an apple farmer and constructed roads and dams before settling down to run hotels in Kathmandu.
He and his team of six guides and helpers leave for the mountain today. His team leader, Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, has scaled Everest twice.
If he regains his record, Sherchan said, he plans to campaign for world peace by travelling to conflict areas such as Syria.
“After I become the oldest Everest climber, people will listen to my campaign for world peace,” he said.