New Everest speed record made by the Sherpa Pemba Dorji

Based on information from Xexplorers web (www.explorersweb.com), Pemba Dorji Sherpa, 26, ascended Everest in eight hours 10 minutes. He broke the record set by Lakpa Gelu Sherpa, 36, of 10 hours 46 minutes in May 2003, a tourism ministry official said.

According to officials Pemba reached the summit of Everest at 2:10 am (local time Friday 21 May) in eight hours 10 minutes after leaving base camp at 6 pm on Thursday evening. Pemba had also summited on May 16th at 7:15am. So in 4 days and 19 hours he made a back-to-back ascent and broke a new speed record.

The two Sherpas have been vying with each other to be quickest up the mountain, with Pemba last year breaking the record when he on 23 May used 12 hours 46 minutes to reach the Everest summit. But just three days later Lakpa, feeding only by fruit juice, rushed to the top to breaking Pemba`s record again.

For over 50 years ago it took Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay more than seven weeks from base camp to the summit, but that was without modern equipment as the climbers use today.

It`s an incredible record Pemba took, but I really wonder: is this sport healthy? How far will this go?

Stein Morten Lund, 21 May 2004

Additional information
Read more about the new record on Xexplorersweb: www.mounteverest.net

An Everest speed ascent history:
Oct 5, 1990, Marc Batard (no O2): 22 hrs 29 min
Oct 17, 1998, Kaji Sherpa (with O2): 20 hrs 24 min
May 21, 2000, Babu Chiri Sherpa (with O2): 16 hrs 56 min
May 22, 2003, Pemba Dorjie Sherpa (with O2): 12 hrs and 45 min
May 25, 2003, Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa (with O2): 10 hrs 56 min
May 21, 2004, Pemba Dorjie Sherpa (with O2): 8 hrs 10 min

Read more about Everest expeditions and other kind of expeditions on www.explorersweb.com

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay made history as the first people to reach the top of Everest.