Gelje Sherpa and other members of his team have reached the 8,586m summit of Kangchenjunga at 1 pm local time.
Seven Summit Treks’ CEO Chhang Dawa Sherpa, who is in touch with Gelje by satellite phone, reported the news.
Gelje Sherpa on Manaslu last month. Photo: Gelje Sherpa
Dolma Outdoor Expedition listed the summiters: Tseng Ko-Erh of Taiwan, and Nelpalis Nima Gyalzen Sherpa, Gelje Sherpa, Dakipa Sherpa, and Pasang Rinjee Sherpa.
This is the first Kangchenjunga expedition to succeed in autumn since 2004, according to the Himalayan Database, Dolma noted.
Kangchenjunga is client Tseng Ko-Erg’s fifth 8,000m peak. It is also Gelje Sherpa’s 12th. It’s an important landmark on his path to becoming the youngest 14×8,000’er summiter. This was .
However, he has not yet reached the main summit of Manaslu. Given the current debate, it is unclear whether he will try or rely on The Himalayan Database’s decision to accept foresummits until 2022. Ironically, part of the team that he worked with on Manaslu last month did reach the highest point, but Gelje stopped at a foresummit.
Congratulations to all. Quite a feat for such a small team. I wish them a safe descent. Outfitter Dolma Outside has given the names of all the summiters and some additional details:
https://www.facebook.com/dolmaoutdoor/
Why is she hesitating to publish the names of the Elite Expedition team who reached the true summit of Manasalu? Is it because she doesn’t like to give any credit to Nirmal. At some point she was claiming that no one other than the members of Imagine team reached the true summit. I would have thought that senior reporters would do better than that. There are many instances when she bent backward to praise European climbers I remember earlier this year when Kilian Jornet was at Everest, his team released very little information about their plan, however it did not… Read more »
Huffing tanks of O2 and jugging up fixed lines meh. More impressed by the route setters then the clients following them up.