Sherpa cons Everest climbers $100K

We've given several warnings on Everest  due climate change, thorny politics and so on, but here's another warning that has caught us by surprise. Climbers beware!


COPY FROM HIMALAYAN TIMES

FRIDAY 24TH APRIL 2015

Tour operator cons Everest climbers

Nine foreign climbers planning a Mount Everest ascent have been conned out of US$100,000 by a Nepalese tour operator who absconded with the money.


Local police have launched a manhunt for Tshering Dorje Sherpa of Himalayan Alpine Adventure Treks after he took possession of the money ahead of the expedition.

Nikolas Mangitsis, team leader of the Greek expedition, Hellas Everest Expedition 2015, told The Himalayan Times eight Greek nationals and one Indian climber paid the Sherpa in cash for a 50-day climb which was due to begin on April 17.

The climbers were scheduled to depart for base camp in Tibet last week by land route to scale the 8,848-metre peak's North Ridge.

"The nine climbers and their five Nepali support staff waited for him but Sherpa did not show up. He just vanished with their money and Chinese visas," said Nabin Trital, the managing director of another trekking agency  who was helping the Sherpa secure climbing permits for the group.

"This is the first such case in the history of mountaineering expeditions in Nepal," said Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Everest 2015- Time for Change

Since beginning our operations over 24 years ago, it has always been a challenge to navigate through the complex and ever-changing political, social, and environmental aspects inherent in running a climbing and trekking operation in the Himalayas. The pay-off nonetheless has always been worth it – to our clients, to our Sherpa’s and their families, and to us. And as much as last year’s tragic events highlighted both the need for better safety regulations and a reassessment of the business which climbing Everest has become, our present concerns and consequent conclusions come from a much larger set of worrying circumstances.

The local government’s fickle posturing and vague statements regarding possible rule changes for mountaineering permits, the drastic alterations to the weather both traditional ENSO and ENSO Modoki have and will continue to cause, the growing list of socio-political events which has a cumulative effect of compromising regional security, present us with only one responsible and rational course of action. We at Peak Freaks are cancelling our commercial Everest 2015 summit climb. As clear as this decision has become it is still far from an easy one for us to have come to. The financial impact on our partners, our Sherpa’s, will be severe.

The patience and loyalty of our clients will be taxed. Even so, our love for the region and what we do remains intact. Our determination to continue expeditions and our commitment to those who welcomed us to the Himalayas almost a quarter century ago and who continue to work by our side has inspired us. It has inspired us to widen our offerings. To provide adventures free from thorny politics, crumbling glaciers, and looming ice-falls. After all, the majesty of the Himalayas should never be locked away.

So on the eve of our sad Everest news we hope solace can be found knowing that Peak Freaks will not close its doors. Instead it will open paths for adventurers to climb other challenging and awe-inspiring peaks, to take cultural tours through the highest lands of Nepal and Tibet, and to experience unconditionally this magical kingdom we now call our second home.

 Tim & Becky Rippel


LOW RISK HIMALAYAN EXPEDITIONS

• Triple Crown- Everest Training - October 11 each year - 30 days
• Advanced Base Camp - 7000m- Everest North- Tibet - 14 days
• One-On-One- Trekking routes, private guiding for the purpose of employing more guides on safer routes. 
• Island Peak- October 11- 21 days
• Lobuche East - October 21- 21 days
• more to come.......... stay tuned!