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'Super Sherpa' Ascends Everest for 21st Time

Apa Sherpa breaks his own record for successful attempts

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted May 11, 2011 12:07 PM CDT

(Newser) – Today, a happier story from Mount Everest: A 51-year-old Nepalese climber nicknamed the "Super Sherpa" reached the summit for the 21st time, beating his own record. Apa Sherpa and five others climbed all night in conditions organizers called "perfect," as part of the annual Eco Everest campaign to raise awareness about climate change and clean up trash on the mountain.

Sherpa first scaled Everest in 1990, and dedicated his last four climbs to the campaign after noticing that rising temperatures were causing climbing to be more dangerous. "The snow along the slopes had melted, exposing the bare rocks underneath, which made it very difficult for us to walk up the slope as there was no snow to dig our crampons into," he tells AFP.

In this Wednesday, April 6, 2011 file photo, Nepalese veteran mountaineer Apa waves before leaving for Mount Everest.
In this Wednesday, April 6, 2011 file photo, Nepalese veteran mountaineer Apa waves before leaving for Mount Everest.   (AP Photo/Binod Joshi, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
YetAnotherCollegeKid
May 18, 2011 3:44 AM CDT
 I would think that climbing even Everest would get a little boring after, say, the 15th time or so. But since I have not (and cannot) do that, who am I to say?
 

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