Asian Trekking

Asian Trekking is a commercial adventure company based out of Kathmandu, Nepal started by Sherpa Ang Tshering.[1] In 2001, it was recorded that Asian Trekking ran 25 large mountain expeditions per year.[2] Asian Trekking made international news when in 2006 four of its clients and two of its Sherpas died in a single season.[3][4][5] One of their clients, David Sharp, died near the summit and this event became the center of an international climbing ethics controversy.[5] Founder of the company Ang said that climbers can die if they use all their energy getting to the summit of Mount Everest, only to be too fatigued for the descent.[1]

Everest towers over its western shoulder, the Khumbu icefall, and on the right Nuptse
Closer view of Everest and its western shoulder
Chinese Tibet's Shishapangma
Lhotse
Lhotse and Everest peaks from space (their eastern side)

Overview

Asian Trekking is known in mountaineering for providing "logistics only" Everest expeditions, which, although cheap, do not offer a lot of extras higher up the mountain.[6] Logistics only, compared to guided or even non-guided climbs, is typically cheaper and gives climbers more freedom, but along with that are fewer safe-guards.[6] Asian Trekking sells unguided Everest expeditions for both the north and south side, but they are oriented towards supplying basic supplies and expedition organization such as hiring a local sherpa.[7]Asian Trekking has also supported expeditions to Manaslu.[8]

History

Asian Trekking has organized multiple years of Eco Everest Expeditions, and often provides logistics for many expeditions.[9] Asian Trekking supported the 2001 International Everest Expedition.[10] In 2009 Asian Trekking organized for several expeditions including the just mentioned Eco Everest Expedition 2009, Atumas Taiwanese 7 Summit and Everest Expedition 2009, International Adventure Alternative Everest Expedition 2009, 7 Summit Club Everest Expedition 2009, Kazak Lhotse-Everest Expedition 2009, and Indo Bangladesh Mount Makalu Expedition.[11] They lost one person Lhakpa Nuru who died was supporting the Eco Everest Expedition.[12]

In the year of 2006, multiple clients had died including David Sharp, Vitor Negrete, Thomas Weber, and Igor Plyushkin.[5][13] In addition, two Asian Trekking Sherpas were killed on April 21, 2006 in a serac fall on the south side: Lhakpa Tseri and Dawa Temba.[14]

At the time of his death, David Sharp was found to be in possession of a receipt for US$7,490, believed to be the whole financial cost with Asian Trekking.[15] Comparatively, fully guided expeditions are between thirty and one hundred thousand US$ plus an additional twenty thousand in other expenses that range from gear to bonuses.[16]

The Washington Times notes that Asian Trekking said Sharp did not take enough oxygen, and did not take a Sherpa helper, and was part of "loose group", not a climbing team all of which put him at higher risk.[17] Asian Trekking services are cheap because they essentially end at base camp (unless they hire a guide).[17] However, Brazilian Vitor Negrete, also climbing with Asian Trekking and possibly teaming with Sharp, died days later despite having a Sherpa helper.[17] In Vitor's case he developed medical problems returning from the summit and died in the arms of his Sherpa assistant.[17][18]

Asian Trekking has supported expeditions on the North and South sides of Mount Everest, and also to Lhotse.[19][20] Asian Trekking has supported International Dream Everest and Eco Everest Expedition trips to Mount Everest.[21] Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa was from Phurte, Nepal and is recorded to have died on May 7, 2009 on the south side of Everest.[22]

In the aftermath of 2015 Mount Everest avalanche, Asian Trekking and Himex were reported to help injured people at their camps.[23]

Examples of lost clients, employees, etc. connected with Asian Trekking:

Deaths[3] Nation[24] Year
Dawa Temba[4]    Nepal 2006
Lhakpa Tseri[4]    Nepal 2006
David Sharp[5]  United Kingdom 2006
Vitor Negrete[5]  Brazil 2006
Thomas Weber  Germany 2006
Igor Plyushkin  Russia 2006
Lhakpa Nuru[12]    Nepal 2009
Eberhard Schaaf  Germany 2012[25]

Summiters/Expeditions
Manaslu, a high mountain in Nepal

Jakob Urth attempted summit Lhotse supported by Asian Trekking.[27]

See also

References
  1. Mirror UK Everest Death Zone: Mountaineers die descending from the summit
  2. Sir Edmund Hillary & the People of Everest By Cynthia Russ Ramsay, Anne B. Keiser - Page 132
  3. The Independent - Cold mountain: Death on Everest
  4. Dispatch 19: Massive Collapse in Khumbu Icefall Claims the Lives of Three Sherpa Climbers
  5. Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season By Nick Heil - Page 171
  6. "Logistics for climbing Mount Everest from Nepal - My experiences with Asian Trekking and IMG". Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  7. The Cost$ of Climbing Everest - 2010
  8. Asian Trekking's International Manaslu Expedition Team Summited Mt.Manaslu(8163M)
  9. Eco Everest
  10. Asian-Trekking International Everest Expedition 2001
  11. Everest 2009: tragedy and sorrow with eleven fatalities on various peaks this season
  13. Outside Magazine -Over the Top
  14. "Un-named Everest Sherpa gets a name - and fatality details". ExplorersWeb. 29 May 2006.
  15. Telegraph - Summit Fever
  16. Odd Spending -The Economics of Everest By Katherine Tarbox Jan. 23, 2012
  17. The Washington Times - Everest climber left to die alone - May 2006
  18. Brazilian Vitor Negrete lost on Everest after a no O2 summit
  19. Asian Trekking's Eco, Lumbini to Everest, & Peace Expeditions Update, April 29
  21. Asian Trekking's Mt.Everest North Side (Tibet) Summit
  22. HD A16 (2009 deaths)
  23. Grand Forks climber helps after devastating Mt. Everest earthquake
  24. Himalayan Database - A17
  25. The Telegraph - Three climbers killed on Mount Everest
  26. Summits on Everest, Lhotse and Shishapangma Central
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