Everest forces climbers to retreat

Storms forced more than 100 climbers to retreat from the south face of Mount Everest today, amid celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the first conquest of the world’s highest peak.

Meanwhile, nine US and Chinese mountaineers on the northern side reached the summit.

A record number of people are trying to scale the Himalayan peak this month to honour the historic climb of Sir Edmund Hillary, of New Zealand, and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepalese guide.

Veteran mountaineers are gathering in the Nepalese capital next week for the event, including Sir Edmund and Junko Tabei, who in 1975 became the first woman to reach the summit. Tenzing Norgay died in 1986.

Meeting Indian mountaineers in New Delhi, Sir Edmund, 83, described how he wriggled to the top of a 40 foot rock wall and stepped onto the snow-blanketed ridge on May 29 1953: “I realised we were on top of Mount Everest and the whole world was spread out below us.”

He said he reached out to shake Norgay’s hand. “But that wasn’t enough for Tenzing. He threw his arms around my shoulders, and I threw my arms around his shoulders, too, and we celebrated together.”

Even then, the New Zealander said he had no idea “of the impact this would have on the world in general, and me.”

But as his expedition headed down the mountain to Kathmandu, runners kept bringing newspapers and messages from around the world.

“Then we knew, because we had succeeded when so many other great climbers had failed, that we had become heroes of the mountaineering world,” Hillary said.

Addressing the mountaineers who have not yet scaled Everest, he said, “If you reach the top of the world, it will give you a satisfaction you’ll never forget.”

More than 1,200 climbers have reached the summit since then, and at least 175 have died trying.

With only a few days left in the climbing season, the thwarted mountaineers on the Nepalese side had hoped to reach the 29,035-foot-high summit after several days of better weather. Increasingly strong winds and rain forced them to return to the highest camp, at 26,240 feet.

The weather has been mostly unfavourable on Everest this year. Climbers have lost tents, equipment and supplies in wind storms, which have forced many to retreat to base camp at 17,400 feet.

The Nepalese government has issued climbing permits to 22 expedition teams for the March to May season, each with about 12 members plus Sherpas who help carry gear up the icy slopes.

Climbers on the northern side of the mountain in Tibet fought snow and high winds during the final stretch to the top.

Americans John Roskelley, 54, and his 20-year-old son, Jess, reported their success in a satellite telephone call.

“Being able to do it together was a dream for both of them,” said Dan McConnell, who received the call.

Seven Chinese mountaineers also reached the summit. “I thank China and the government for giving me this opportunity,” said one climber in a live television transmission from the summit.