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Nepali man, 83, plans to reclaim the title of oldest Everest climber
Nepal's Min Bahadur Sherchan plans to reclaim the title of world's oldest man to scale Mount Everest in May at the age of 83. Sherchan had successfully scaled world's highest peak in 2008 at the age of 76 to claim the record. But in 2013, Japanese Yuichiro Miura entered the record books by scaling the peak at 80 years of age.
Some say age is just a number. Nepal's Min Bahadur Sherchan plans to prove that right by attempting to scale Mount Everest next month at the age of 83.
The octogenarian who will turn 84 in June will try and reclaim the record as the oldest person to have climbed the world's tallest peak, which stands at 8,848 metres above sea level.
The British Army Gurkha ex-serviceman will leave Kathmandu on Friday to acclimatize with the conditions at the base camp. He will make his attempt for the peak around May 15, depending on the weather.
"My attempt to summit the Everest for the second time has two fold purpose. Firstly, I am 100% confident that I can stand on top of the world for the name of Nepal and Nepali and the Brigade of Gurkhas where my adventure began," he stated in his website.
Sherchan had successfully scaled the peak in 2008 at the age of 76 to claim the record. But in 2013, Japanese Yuichiro Miura entered the record books by scaling the peak at 80 years of age.
The same year, Sherchan, who was 81 at that time, had to abandon his attempt to scale the peak due to adverse weather and chest problems and had to be airlifted back to Kathmandu.
Talking to journalists here on Wednesday, the octogenarian claimed he is in perfect shape and expressed confidence that he will able to reclaim the record and bring glory to his country.
An avid trekker, Sherchan, a resident of Myagdi district in mid-western Nepal, had trekked the entire length of Nepal, a distance of over 1200 km from east to west, within 20 days when he was 73 years old.
For his latest attempt he is preparing himself by climbing up and down the stairs of his three-storey house with a 25 kg backpack. He does that for more than 20 times daily.
Sherchan will be part of an expedition organized by Himalayan Guides, Nepal, and experienced mountain guide Shiva Sapkota will lead the team.
During his 2013 attempt, the octogenarian has faced funding problems. This time, he is receiving financial support from the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) of United Kingdom.
