Two British mountaineers have become the first foreigners to scale the mighty Mount Everest, after the devastating earthquake that had ended last year's climbing season. Accompanied by local guides Dorchi Gyalzen Sherpa and Pemba Bhote, Kenton Cool and Robert Lucas reached the peak at 8;15 am today.
"After today's successful summit, Kenton Cool has become the first Briton to summit Everest 12 times," said Iswari Paudel, owner of Himalayan Guides Nepal, which arranged the expedition. The mountain was abandoned ever since an avalanche triggered by the earthquake killed 18 people, including eight Nepalis, at Everest base camp. "In the last two years, I have lost 14 sherpas in two disasters on Everest. All of us in the climbing community, locals and westerners, have been so sad. We really wanted to send out a positive message to the world this year. Today's summit is very good news," Paudel said.
Nepal issued 289 permits to mountaineers for this year's brief spring climbing season, which runs from mid-April to the end of May. Mountaineering is a major source of revenue for the Himalayan-nation.
