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Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Science
- Korea Herald
Drones are now saving lives in Everest death zone
KATHMANDU, Nepal (Kathmandu Post/ANN) -- In March, a chilling incident unfolded in the frigid heights of the Everest region. Three Chinese trekkers -- a father and his two daughters -- lost their way in the Dingboche area. With only two porters and no guide, they had pushed on to Cho La pass, a treacherous trail perched 5,368 meters above sea level. By nightfall, the trekkers were missing, and their disappearance sparked panic in the region. At 10 p.m., their hotel launched a desperate search-and-rescue mission. Six guides were dispatched to scour the area, but after three grueling hours in the harsh mountain terrain, they found nothing. Fear gripped the hotel area, where the Chinese were residing. Then a stroke of technological luck intervened. Airlift Technology, a local drone-mapping startup, had team members staying in a nearby hotel. Without hesitation, they deployed a drone borrowed from a foreigner. Within an hour it had located the stranded trekkers. The rescue team moved swiftly. Lives were saved -- not by chance, but by the eyes in the sky. According to Airlift Technology, this was just a glimpse of what drones can do in Nepal's high mountains. If equipped with thermal detection, drones can pinpoint the location of missing climbers -- if they are still alive. With 3D mapping capabilities, drones can remotely scan the icy landscapes of places like the Khumbu Icefall, measuring the length and depth of crevasses. Climbers and guides can assess the mountain's dangers and be warned of potential avalanches or collapsing ice slabs. That warning came just in time for one expedition in April. Months ago, while preparing the route on Mount Pumori -- standing at 7,161 meters, just 8 kilometers from Everest -- Airlift's drone spotted a hanging serac, a huge block of unstable ice. The expedition was called off. Climbers and guides likely escaped death that day. Such interventions, however, cannot always prevent tragedy. On April 7, 2025, around noon, a massive avalanche thundered above Camp II (5,600 meters) of Annapurna, the world's 10th highest mountain. A team of sherpas from Seven Summit Treks were carrying bottled oxygen for their clients' summit push. The avalanche caught Ngima Tashi and Rima Rinje. Another Sherpa, Pemba Thenduk, was swept along but miraculously survived. Despite days of relentless searching, there was no trace of Ngima and Rima. On April 11, Seven Summit Treks wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post, "It is no longer possible for anyone to survive this long under the mass of snow and ice. Prolonging search efforts would risk more lives. With a heavy heart, we have decided to suspend the search and bid farewell." The mountain had claimed two more of its finest. But would drones one day change this cruel pattern? "If drones can be used to deliver oxygen and supplies, we can reduce the number of risky trips sherpas must undertake," said Milan Pandey, co-founder of Airlift Technology. The sherpas -- Nepal's high-altitude trailblazers -- have long been the silent heroes of Himalayan expeditions. They guide climbers, ferry supplies, and prepare routes, often putting their lives on the line. The dangers they face are relentless. Three sherpas were killed by an avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall alone last year. This treacherous stretch -- an ever-shifting river of ice just below Everest Base Camp -- is so dangerous that most climbers attempt it only between 3 and 5 am, when the ice is most stable. As the sun rises, melting ice becomes unstable, and avalanches are frequent. On April 18, 2014, a falling serac buried 16 sherpa guides in the Icefall, ending that year's climbing season. The Himalayan Database records 48 deaths on the Icefall between 1953 and 2024. Now, the mountain may finally have a new kind of helper. "After our successful operations on Everest, we're piloting drones on Annapurna this September," said Pandey. "We flew drones up to 6,500 meters this spring, carrying over 30 kilograms of supplies in minus 25 degrees Celsius and winds of 45 kph." Where sherpas take 6-7 hours to climb carrying 12 kilograms of gear, drones do the same in 10 minutes. This spring alone, Airlift mobilized two heavy-lifter drones that transported 2.5 tonnes of supplies -- including 300 kilograms of garbage -- in and out of the Khumbu Icefall. The drone reached a record 6,130 meters, the highest documented drone delivery. Before Everest, the highest known drone ascent was 5,000 meters near Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. This spring, almost all the ladders and ropes used to prepare Everest's route were flown by drones up to Camp I. The Icefall Doctors, a group of specialist sherpas mobilised by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), usually carry over 20 ladders and hundreds of kilograms of ropes by hand. This year, drones lifted 444 kilograms of such equipment. "It was super fast," Pandey said. "This year, the drones supplied 900 kilograms of equipment for the 8K Expedition up to Camp I. They also delivered 150 oxygen cylinders for Asian Trekking, six at a time -- each weighing four liters." The DJI drone weighs 96 kilograms and has a payload capacity of 32 kilograms. The results were impressive. For instance, when the Icefall Doctors discovered a crevasse longer than expected, they needed extra ladders. Instead of climbing down to Base Camp and back -- a day's delay and a risky journey -- a drone delivered four ladders in just two minutes. The sherpas finished the section within an hour. Traditionally, sherpas travel from Base Camp to Camp I and back in 10 hours, including 6 hours of climbing. With drones, the task now takes 10 minutes, including loading. There were challenges. In one instance, a drone was forced into an emergency landing when winds hit 66 kph. "Drones can fail," Pandey admitted, "but people won't die. We're planning a full-fledged drone operation next spring." They don't come cheap though. The price of a DJI drone is $70,000 with taxes. Pemba Sherpa, executive director of 8K Expeditions, the company entrusted to prepare routes from Camp II to the Everest summit this spring, said, "There is no doubt that drones are a life-saving initiative. The human risk is zero." "When sherpas don't have to carry loads, their performance improves." "Besides, though the commercial aspect of the drone is yet to be properly assessed, preliminary reports suggest it is over 10 times cheaper to transport goods through drones than through choppers," he said. Operators say the average travel time for rope-fixing sherpas from Base Camp to Camp I was cut by 90 minutes this year. Airlift used Chinese drones this spring but plans to test a European drone on Mt. Manaslu -- Nepal's eighth-highest peak -- this September. Standing at 8,163 meters, Manaslu is another formidable testing ground. "We'll begin the survey next month," said Pandey. "After the test, we'll know its carrying capacity and full potential." Could drones one day bring supplies down to Lukla, Everest's gateway airport? "Technically, yes," Pandey said. "But our focus is on emergency support and garbage removal. We don't want to displace porters' jobs." That's a valid concern. Hundreds of locals depend on Everest for income. Porters form the backbone of Nepal's trekking industry. SPCC collected more than 83 tonnes of garbage from Everest this spring alone. That included 25,056 kilograms of paper, plastic, and clothing; 8,374 kilograms of metal and glass; 17,861 kilograms of kitchen waste; and a staggering 31,797 kilograms of human waste. Also retrieved: 788 used gas canisters and 1,802 spent batteries. The mountains are magnificent -- but they are unforgiving. Technology may never fully tame them. But this spring, Nepal took a small yet bold step toward a safer future in the death zone, where once only courage treaded -- and now, drones fly.
Scroll.in
13-06-2025
- Scroll.in
From the memoir: When two mountaineers were forced to turn back only 900 metres from Everest summit
In the early hours of 16 May, the Everest climbing team departed from Camp 2, heading towards the bergschrund at the base of the Lhotse wall. We made good progress, with Sauraj leading us efficiently up the gruelling, 70° incline of the ice wall. Along the way, we encountered climbers being escorted down on oxygen and ropes, assisted by a dedicated rescue team. We were aware that Seven Summit Treks had stationed a ten-person rescue team at Camp 2 this season. Their careful, methodical work left us impressed by their commitment and efficiency. As we neared Camp 3 (7,450 m), we crossed paths with the Lhotse team who were descending from the mountain. They looked utterly spent, having endured fierce winds and the relentless strain of extreme altitude. We offered our heartfelt congratulations, then approached Mingma with a mix of apprehension and hope. To our immense relief, his demeanour was free of bitterness or resentment. He reassured us that he would indeed be our expedition leader. Despite descending with his team, he promised to return early the next morning and ascend to South Col with us. Buoyed by his reassuring words, we reached Camp 3 and spent another restless night in our tent, precariously perched on the steep incline of the Lhotse wall. The morning of 17 May dawned quietly, without much ordeal. Despite the biting cold, the awkward angle of the tent and the extreme altitude, I had slept relatively well, wrapped in my down suit and breathing from an oxygen tank. After lacing up my boots, packing my sleeping bag and strapping on my climbing harness, I stepped out of the tent to allow Sauraj to get ready in the cramped space. That day's ascent to South Col required us to use supplementary oxygen to survive in the thinning atmosphere. We were about to enter the 'Death Zone'. Outside, chaos reigned. Teams scrambled around their tents, and climbers jostled to get onto the main fixed line running through Camp 3 which led up the mountain. The sub-zero temperatures turned every task into an agonising struggle. Replacing oxygen cylinders, managing regulators, adjusting crampons and packing up the tents became Herculean efforts, each task taking twice as long as usual. By the time we were set to start at 6:30 am, my hands were painfully frozen despite wearing gloves. My only thought was, 'Let's move.' Spotting Pemba clipping onto the main fixed line, I followed, hoping the act of climbing would relieve the burning cold in my extremities. We began the slow ascent up the ropes, confident that the rest of our team would be just minutes behind. As we reached the first crest, about twenty minutes out of Camp 3, I noticed a climber ahead, sitting in the snow with his down suit half unzipped and his hands bare despite the extremely cold temperatures, which was a shocking sight. Pemba and I reached him to find him dazed and struggling with his oxygen mask. A Sherpa climber was attempting to assist him, but he seemed disoriented. I voiced my concern to Pemba, who quickly communicated with the Sherpa and then turned to me, translating: 'Russian climber going down. Needs rescue!' Pemba immediately radioed Camp 2, and we received confirmation that the rescue team was aware of the situation and on its way. As Lakpa Tenzi led Sauraj, Vikas and Takeshi up to us, I saw the shock and alarm etched on their faces as they took in the sight of the incapacitated climber. 'Oh God! Are you okay? Is he okay?' Vikas shouted through his face mask. 'Let's help him,' said Sauraj, taking a few steps towards the climber. But Lakpa and Pemba quickly stopped him, emphasising that the rescue team was already on its way. Though we were eager to assist, Pemba insisted we keep moving. The rescue team would arrive any moment, and we were ill-equipped to handle a medical emergency of this scale. Visibly shaken, we resumed our ascent. The encounter had left an indelible mark on our minds, starkly illustrating the perilous nature of high-altitude mountaineering. As we climbed the Lhotse Face, each step felt like a heavy, painful reminder of the danger we faced. My thoughts drifted into a dark chasm of anxiety and fear, overshadowing the once glorious summit aspirations. The focus of my solemn prayers shifted from 'Dear God, please let me succeed' to 'Please, just let me survive'. We must have been climbing for another sixty minutes when we heard Mingma Tenzi Sherpa's deep, commanding voice behind us. He had started his ascent all the way from Camp 2 early that morning after a good night's sleep. Having joined the rescue team, he had caught up with us, bringing with him the reassuring news that the Russian climber was being evacuated. With Mingma's presence and the rising sun, our earlier fears began to dissolve, and our spirits were renewed. Mingma directed the Sherpa team to advance at their faster pace, while the four of us followed him up the Lhotse wall. I stayed close behind Mingma, constantly in awe of his strength and resilience. Here was a man who had just led an expedition up Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world. After descending the previous day and getting only one night's rest, he was back on the mountain, leading us up the Lhotse wall as if it were a morning stroll. Acclimatised to the high altitude, he wasn't even wearing an oxygen mask. Watching him effortlessly stride ahead, occasionally looking back with a reassuring smile, filled me with immense gratitude and admiration. His superhuman strength and unwavering calm were a beacon of hope amidst the daunting climb. It took us nearly six hours to ascend the Lhotse wall. With a final, strenuous push, I hauled myself over the rock ledge marking the top of the Geneva Spur and secured myself at the anchor point before sinking into a well-earned rest. It was just 12.30 pm, and we had already conquered the most challenging section of the day. Our tents at South Col were now only a short 20-minute walk away. As I took in the breathtaking panorama of the Western Cwm below, I marvelled at the fact that we were back here at 8,000 m above the world. Despite the uncertainties of the next 24 hours, we had defied the odds and reached this pivotal point where only a brave few had ventured. Sauraj climbed up to the Geneva Spur, his eyes locked on the Everest summit, where a fierce white plume of snow trailed from its dark, jagged edge. His face was a mask of intense focus and unyielding determination, capturing the summit that had eluded us for four long years. When he turned towards me, I captured the moment on camera: Sauraj, resolute and powerful, with Everest's pinnacle daring us to test our resolve against its towering heights. We took a breath to appreciate the significance of our achievement before Takeshi and Vikas arrived. Once they had caught their breath, we pushed onward together, tackling the final few hundred metres to our camp. As we emerged from the shadow of Lhotse and entered the exposed basin of South Col, a powerful gust of wind hit us. I looked up at the peak, dismayed to see that the snow plume was a stark reminder of the fierce winds at the summit. Despite the forecast of clear weather, we were once again battered by icy winds at Camp 4. The support team of Sherpas was impeccably organised. Arriving an hour earlier, they had already pitched most of the tents and started heating water. We, utterly spent from the gruelling climb up the Lhotse wall, bundled into a single tent with immense relief. The tent, shielded from the relentless wind, surprisingly offered warmth, which began to aid our recovery. Inside, we adjusted our climbing gear and found solace in the confined space, which now felt like a sanctuary. Mingma came by with a flask of hot water, checking on each of us and ensuring we were okay. He took a quick inventory of our oxygen regulators and advised us to change into dry clothes. He even insisted we remove the insoles from our boots to prevent frostbite – a crucial piece of advice that later proved invaluable. One of the Sherpas, who had neglected to do this, later suffered severe frostbite and had to be evacuated. As we huddled in our tent, preparing for the long, arduous night ahead, we drew immense comfort from each other's presence. After enduring the harsh conditions of the past two months together, our shared experiences had forged a bond of strength. Words of caution and advice were received with grace, and even moments of silence were filled with a profound sense of camaraderie. Vikas's calm demeanour, Takeshi's inadvertent humour and Sauraj's unwavering determination each contributed to a renewed sense of confidence. Despite our diverse personalities, we drew strength from one another. Outside, the winds raged on, tearing at anything not securely anchored. Memories from a year ago haunted us, but we kept them at bay. The tent, packed tightly with the four of us in our down suits and sleeping bags, became our fortress. With easy access to oxygen, hot tea for hydration and a generous supply of chips, chocolates and dried fruits fuelling us, our bodies began to recover and our spirits lifted. Sauraj had even managed to bring a pack of Uno, resulting in perhaps the highest game of Uno in the world. With the unwavering support of our Sherpa team and Mingma's vigilant care, we managed to recover well during the seven hours we spent at South Col. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the ferocious winds began to ease. The weather forecast had proven accurate, offering a brief respite from the relentless elements. With our departure set for 8 pm, we made the most of the final hours, retreating into our sleeping bags and mentally bracing ourselves for the gruelling night ahead. Everything above us was uncharted territory, an alien expanse of ice and rock. We had no inkling of the trials that lay in wait, only the daunting knowledge that the coming hours would test our limits in ways we could scarcely imagine. The anticipation was palpable, mingling with the cold, as we settled in, preparing for the unknown challenges that awaited us in the darkness. Excerpted with permission from What's Your Everest?: A Path to Passion and Purpose, Samir Patham and Sauraj Jhingan, Bloomsbury India.
Dubai Eye
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Nepali Sherpa scales Mount Everest for a record 31st time
File photo/AFP Nepali Sherpa guide Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for the 31st time on Tuesday, breaking the record he set last year. The 55-year-old reached the 29,032 foot peak - the highest in the world - by the traditional southeast ridge route while guiding a 22-member Indian army team, officials said, adding that 27 other Sherpas also accompanied the group. "He is a very passionate climber," said Pasang Phurba, director of the Seven Summit Treks company for which Kami Rita works, adding that Rita was currently descending to lower camps. Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has done so every year except for three years when authorities closed the mountain to climbers for various reasons. More than 8,000 people have climbed Mount Everest since it was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. After Rita, another Sherpa, Pasang Dawa, has ascended Everest the most with 29 climbs. Among non-Sherpa climbers, the record is held by British guide Kenton Cool who has accomplished the feat 19 times, followed by American climbers Dave Hahn and Garrett Madison with 15 times each. One of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks and is heavily reliant on climbing, trekking, and tourism for foreign exchange. Guiding foreign climbers to Everest and other peaks provides crucial family income to many Sherpas. Authorities have issued 468 permits to climbers for Everest this March-May climbing season, and more than 300 climbers and Sherpas have already scaled the peak, officials said. Two climbers are known to have died on the mountain this month and there have also been unconfirmed reports of other deaths.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
‘Everest Man' on top of the world after breaking own record
A 55-year-old Nepali climber dubbed 'Everest Man' reached the peak of the world's highest mountain for a record 31st time, more than three decades after his first summit. 'Massive congratulations to the legendary Kami Rita Sherpa (pic) on his 31st successful ascent of Everest, the highest number of ascents by anyone in history,' expedition organiser Seven Summit Treks said. 'Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself.' Sherpa first stood on the top of Mount Everest in 1994 when working for a commercial expedition. He has climbed Everest almost every year since, guiding clients. Sherpa, speaking a year ago after he had climbed the 8,849m peak for the 29th and 30th times, said that he was 'just working' and did not plan on setting records. 'I am glad for the record, but records are eventually broken,' he said in May 2024. 'I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world.' Seven Summit Treks said he completed the climb yesterday as the leader of an Indian army team, adding that he 'not only reached the summit himself, but also led and guided the last remaining members of the team to the top'. Another Nepali climber, Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, 29, returned to the capital Kathmandu the same day after he made a record-breaking four summits of Everest in just 15 days, completing the last on May 23, according to 8K Expeditions. 'I feel proud, it was a very difficult task but I made it a success,' Gyalzen Sherpa said after landing in Kathmandu, where his family and mountaineering fans welcomed him. 'Earlier, many pioneers have scaled the Everest many times, but not four times in one season.' The records come as the spring climbing season nears its end. More than 500 climbers and their guides have already reached the summit of Everest since the route opened, taking advantage of brief spells of good weather, according to Nepal's tourism department. The season has so far recorded the fewest number of deaths on Everest in recent years. Two climbers, a Filipino and an Indian, have died on its high camps. Nepal has issued more than 1,100 permits for mountaineers this season, including 458 for Everest, earning more than US$5mil (RM21mil) in royalties. Nepal is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks. — AFP
ARN News Center
27-05-2025
- Sport
- ARN News Center
Nepali Sherpa scales Mount Everest for a record 31st time
Nepali Sherpa guide Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for the 31st time on Tuesday, breaking the record he set last year. The 55-year-old reached the 29,032 foot peak - the highest in the world - by the traditional southeast ridge route while guiding a 22-member Indian army team, officials said, adding that 27 other Sherpas also accompanied the group. "He is a very passionate climber," said Pasang Phurba, director of the Seven Summit Treks company for which Kami Rita works, adding that Rita was currently descending to lower camps. Rita first climbed Everest in 1994 and has done so every year except for three years when authorities closed the mountain to climbers for various reasons. More than 8,000 people have climbed Mount Everest since it was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. After Rita, another Sherpa, Pasang Dawa, has ascended Everest the most with 29 climbs. Among non-Sherpa climbers, the record is held by British guide Kenton Cool who has accomplished the feat 19 times, followed by American climbers Dave Hahn and Garrett Madison with 15 times each. One of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks and is heavily reliant on climbing, trekking, and tourism for foreign exchange. Guiding foreign climbers to Everest and other peaks provides crucial family income to many Sherpas. Authorities have issued 468 permits to climbers for Everest this March-May climbing season, and more than 300 climbers and Sherpas have already scaled the peak, officials said. Two climbers are known to have died on the mountain this month and there have also been unconfirmed reports of other deaths.
