Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most records are held by Sherpas, including the first ascent,
the fastest climb, and the longest time spent standing naked on
the summit (three minutes in subzero temperatures!). In 1963,
Jim Whittaker became the first American to reach Everest's
summit. Moments later, the late Barry Bishop, an American
geographer who worked for the National Geographic Society,
followed Whittaker to the top. The mountain has been climbed
by an American with an artificial leg (Thomas Whittaker)
and another who was blind (Erik Weihenmayer). In 2005, two
Nepalese—Ms. Moni Mulepati and Mr. Pem Dorjee—were
even married on top of the mountain!
Another attraction of the Everest region is the Everest
Marathon, which is listed in the
Guinness Book of World Records
as the marathon conducted at the highest elevation. The Everﾭ
est Marathon begins at Gorak Shep (17,000 feet; 5,184 meters)
and finishes at Namche Bazaar (11,300 feet; 3,446 meters).
This amazing footrace began in 1987. By late 2007, it had been
conducted 12 times over the rugged course that covers mostly
downhill mountain trails. The grand success of the Everest
Marathon inspired other such races in the region, including the
TenzingﾭHillary Everest Marathon.
Kanchenjunga Region—Mount Kanchenjunga
Mount Kanchenjunga—the
“Five Treasures of the Eternal
Snows”—takes its name from its five distinct peaks, which are
located at the eastern edge of Nepal and extend into neighborﾭ
ing Sikkim. The peaks are believed to represent a repository
for the five holy items essential for life: gems, grain, salt, weapﾭ
ons, and holy books. Rising to 28,169 feet (8,586 meters), the
mountain is the second highest in Nepal and the third highﾭ
est in the world. It was first climbed in 1955, two years after
Mount Everest was initially scaled. Local people consider the
peaks of Kanchenjunga to be the holy place of a patron deity
who protects them from possible harm. Kanchenjunga is one
of the most famous trekking regions in Nepal for mountain
