Nepal reserves a hero's welcome for record-breaking climber Mingma G
The Nepali and two Chinese climbers completed the seven highest summits in every continent, from Asia to South America, as well as all the eight-thousanders in the Himalayas. He was honoured with flowers and garlands upon landing at the capital's airport. The country is also celebrating a record-breaking year for visitors to the Annapurna region, with close to 245,000 arrivals in 2024.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – The authorities, colleagues and ordinary Nepalis today gave a hero's welcome to Nepali climber Mingma Gyabu Sherpa (Mingma G) upon his arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, where the legendary climber was fêted with garlands and flowers after setting a new record, reaching all the highest peaks, in each continent, from Europe and Africa to the Americas and Asia.
Mingma G hails from the Rolwaling Valley, which lies at an altitude of 4,200 m, the "home gym" where he was born and raised. He is a veteran of all Himalayan eight-thousanders, the highest of the planet, which he climbed several times and reached with different techniques.
He completed the seven summit peaks in as many continents on 27 December 2024 with Chinese partners Zhang Jian and Gu Xuming.
Overall he has been to the top of Mount Everest (8,848 m) in Asia six times (2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2022); Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in Africa in 2019; Elbrus[*] (5,642 m) in the Caucasus in 2019 and 2024; Denali[†] (6,190 m) in North America in 2024; Puncak Jaya (4,884m) in Oceania in 2024; the Vinson Massif (4,892m) in Antarctica also in 2024, and the Aconcagua (6,962m) in South America.
In October 2024, Mingma G became the first Nepali to complete all 14 of the 8,000-metre peaks without the aid of oxygen. The Nepali sportsman has climbed: Everest six times, the K2 five times, the Kanchenjunga twice, the Lhotse once, Makalu twice, the Cho Oyu twice, the Dhaulagiri twice, Manaslu seven times, the Nanga Parbat once, the Annapurna twice, the Gasherbrum I once, the Broad Peak twice, the Gasherbrum II and the Shishapangma once.
When he reached the summit of Nanga Parbat in 2017, he was also the first climber to do it in the fall. He was also one of 10 Nepali climbers and the leader of his team for the first winter ascent of K2.
The sportsman, who is also a certified guide of the International Union of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGHA), reached the South Pole in 2024 on skis, one of the few Nepalis to achieve this milestone.
In addition to celebrating its most famous climber, Nepal also marked recently another significant achievement.
The Annapurna region, a world-famous destination for trekking and adventure, reached a record-breaking 244,045 foreign tourists in 2024, 132,094 from South Asia, and 111,951 from other regions, this according to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
This is the highest number in the region's history, beating the previous record of 191,558 visitors in 2023, a sign of strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which drastically reduce the number of arrivals.
ACAP chief Rabin Kadariya stressed the importance of this renaissance, noting that 2024 not only marked a revival in tourism, but also set a new benchmark in terms of arrivals.
In fact, the Annapurna Circuit trek, with iconic destinations like Base Camp, Mardi Peak, Tilicho Lake in Manang, Thorong La Pass, Upper Mustang, Muktinath and Ghodepani of Myagdi, continues to captivate domestic and international visitors alike.
In addition to being among the 10 most visited global destinations according to travel guides, the region was added to the 2023 CNN’s list of the world's 23 best sites for travel and adventure.
[*] Europe’s highest.
[†] Formerly known as Mount McKinley in 2015.
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07/05/2024 11:57
