40 climbers reach Everest summit despite adverse weather
Climbers from 8K Expeditions and Seven Summit Treks overcome challenging conditions to reach the summit of the world's highest peak
At least 40 climbers from two expedition companies have successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest on Wednesday morning, according to the expedition organizers.
Five climbers from 8K Expeditions and 22 from Seven Summit Treks made it to the world’s highest peak, overcoming challenging weather conditions, the outfitters confirmed.
Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expeditions announced via a Facebook post that his team of five, including two Czech climbers — Roman Kozelka (a UIAGM-certified guide) and Milan Schagerer — along with their guides Nawang Sherpa and Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa, reached the summit at 6:30 a.m. Nepali time on May 14. Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, a climber set to summit Everest four times this season, also made his second ascent within five days, closely following the rope-fixing team on May 9. “The team is currently descending to lower camps,” Lakpa Sherpa reported.
According to Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expedition, six Ukrainian climbers and their Nepali guides also reached the summit on Wednesday. The Ukrainian team includes Valentyn Sypavin, Viacheslav Kalashnykov, Viacheslav Kryvosheia, Nina Aleksieieva, Iurii Kostiukevych, and Marharyta Diachenko, alongside Nepali guides Sanu Sherpa, Phurba Sherpa, Lakpa Ongjuk Sherpa, Pasang Sherpa, Dawa Tenzi Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, and Nurbu Sherpa.
Meanwhile, Chhang Dawa Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks confirmed another successful ascent. A team comprising Chinese and Japanese climbers, accompanied by experienced Sherpa guides, reached the summit via the South Col route on the Nepal side. Despite a narrow weather window, the team completed the ascent. The climbers include Jing Zhang, Junyi Luo, Xudong Sun, Jianghau Rao, Zheng Yu, Yiling Ke, Zhiwei Xue, Zheng Ye from China, Hideki Nakazono from Japan, and American climber Xiaoyang Wang.
Their guiding team included Nepali climbers Pas Dukpa Sherpa, Pema Gyalgen Sherpa, Pemba Thinduk Sherpa, Phursang Sherpa, Dawa Rinje Sherpa, Pastenji Sherpa, Dawa Nurbu Sherpa, Tasi Sherpa, Mingma Nurbu Sherpa, Karma Gyalje Sherpa, Rinje Sherpa, and Lakpa Renjin Sherpa. Chhang Dawa Sherpa also mentioned that other climbers from Seven Summit Treks are currently at higher camps, acclimatizing and preparing for their own summit attempts.
This season, Seven Summit Treks has a team of 103 fee-paying climbers attempting Everest. The recent summits occurred amid a brief weather window, while hundreds of climbers and their support teams wait for improved conditions. Favorable weather is expected after May 15, with climbers gradually making their way to higher camps for their summit bids.
The rope-fixing team secured the route to the summit on May 9, slightly ahead of schedule. However, only 16 climbers made it to the top during the first summit wave — significantly lower than in previous years.
