Nepali man summits Everest for record 19th time

CNN ^ | 5/22/2009 | Staff

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KATHMANDU, Nepal (CNN) -- Like many Nepalese guides, Apa Sherpa started trekking to the top of Mount Everest in the shadow of more famous climbers -- including the son of the late Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb to the top of the world's tallest peak.

But the 49-year-old Nepali -- who now lives in the United States -- on Thursday morning became the only person in the world to summit Everest 19 times.

Apa says his goals in climbing the 29,029-foot (8,848-meter) mountain have nothing to do with setting the world record for Everest summits, a title he has held since 1998.

"Up to the 17th time in 2007 I climbed as a professional, as part of my occupation," Apa said, according to the Web site tracking the progress of his most recent expedition. "But last year I climbed to raise funds for a school in Thame, my village on the foot of Everest."

In addition to raising money for Nepali schoolkids, Apa also plans to remove more than two tons of garbage from Everest.

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Having been to Nepal several time including this year, I can honestly say that the Sherpa people are much stronger than any westerner.

They carry 250 pound pipes for hydroelectric dams on their heads....and they are not a large people!

[DvdMom]

Is he the one featured in the Discovery tv show ?

[Technocrat]

I read this in the paper this morning - it also says that the head of the association is named Ang. (Shown at lower right) Appa's daughter is married to someone in our town, as well.