19-time Mt Qomolangma climber missing

KATHMANDU. October 25. KAZINFORM A Nepali mountaineer who was just one climb away from equaling the world record for most ascents of Mt Qomolangma has gone missing along the slopes of the 7,129-meter Mt Baruntse in eastern Nepal. Kazinform refers to China Daily.

According to Monday's Republica daily report, Chhewang Nima Sherpa, 43, went missing after a massive avalanche struck the slopes of the mountain Saturday afternoon, said the agency that organized the expedition.

"A search operation could not be initiated on Sunday owing to extremely windy conditions along the mountain's slopes," said Jeewan Ghimire of Sherpa Shangri-la Trek and Expeditions. "We hope to be able to conduct an aerial search Monday morning," Ghimire added.

Chhewang, who climbed the mountain twice in spring 2010 pushing his count to 19, was fixing climbing ropes at an altitude of 7,045 meters when the avalanche struck, according to Ghimire.

All other members of the expedition, including six British and one American climber, are safe.

Apa Sherpa, 50, who climbed the mountain for the 20th time in May this year, is the only climber to have set his feet on top of the world more times than Chhewang.

But Chhewang was poised to beat Apa owing to an age advantage. He was planning to take the lead in 2011.

According to Tilak Pandey, an official at the Mountaineering Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Chhewang was seeking to climb the mountain twice in spring 2011 to overtake Apa.

Pandey also said chances of finding Chhewang alive are slim. Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.