Asian Trekking

Asian Trekking is a Nepal-based adventure company, specialising in mountaineering expeditions and trekking in the Himalayas. Started in December 1981 by UIAA Honorary Member Ang Tshering Sherpa,[1] it is Nepal's oldest mountaineering and trekking company still in operation. In 2008, Tshering's son Dawa Steven Sherpa, an environmentalist and mountaineer, took over the leadership of the company and continues to serve as the managing director to this day.

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)

Asian Trekking is known to run personalised expeditions, providing expedition support on a spectrum of services from base camp only support to service to the summit. According to the Himalayan Database, Asian Trekking has organised 889 mountaineering[2] expeditions in Nepal and Tibet, including 284 expeditions on Mount Everest, making it the company with the most number of expeditions organised.

Overview

Asian Trekking is known for facilitating the climbs of many successful summits, including Mount Everest. The company offers a wide range of trekking and climbing packages, expert guides, and logistical support to adventure enthusiasts from around the world. Amongst it accolades, it has successfully guided: the world's oldest female on the summit of Everest;[3] the first blind Asian man on Everest;[4] the first double summit of Mt. Everest in one season (from Nepal and Tibet);[5] the first ascent of Mt. Burke Khang (6942m)[6] and Dragmarpo Ri.

Additionally, Asian Trekking is recognised for its commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental conservation.[7][8] The company has been actively involved in various initiatives aimed at preserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and supporting local communities. Asian Trekking has successfully organised the clean up of over 25,000Kgs of garbage from the slopes of Mt. Everest.[9] During the Covid pandemic- in 2020,2021 and 2022- Asian Trekking partnered with the Swiss luxury brand BALLY to clean the base camps of all 8000m peaks in Nepal.

History

Asian Trekking has organized multiple years of Eco Everest Expeditions, and often provides logistics for many expeditions.[10] Asian Trekking supported the 2001 International Everest Expedition.[11] In 2009 Asian Trekking organized for several expeditions including the just mentioned Eco Everest Expedition 2009, Atunas 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.[12] Asian Trekking has supported expeditions on the North and South sides of Mount Everest, and also to Lhotse.[13][14] Asian Trekking has supported International Dream Everest and Eco Everest Expedition trips to Mount Everest.[15]

In the aftermath of 2015 Mount Everest avalanche, Asian Trekking and Himex were reported to help injured people at their camps.[16]

Deaths and Controversies

Asian Trekking made international news in 2006 when one of their clients, David Sharp, died near the summit,[17][18][19] and this event became the center of an international climbing ethics controversy.[19] Sharp was climbing solo without any support from a guiding team, hiring Asian Trekking for base camp support only. This was his 3rd attempt on Everest and 5th time on an 8000m expedition- having already been on Cho Oyu twice before that. At the time of his death, David Sharp was found to be in possession of a receipt for US$7,490, believed to be the whole financial cost with Asian Trekking.[20] Comparatively, fully guided expeditions are between thirty and one hundred thousand US$ plus an additional twenty thousand in other expenses that range from gear to bonuses.[21] On May 14, 2006, he ran into trouble at an altitude of approximately 8,500 meters (27,887 feet) near the summit, where he encountered a lack of supplemental oxygen and bad weather. Sharp's plight was witnessed by several climbers from different expeditions, and his distress was evident. However, due to the extreme conditions and their own precarious positions, they faced a difficult decision. They were forced to prioritise their own safety and summit attempts, making it nearly impossible to provide immediate assistance to Sharp. The lack of action by those climbers and the inability to help Sharp stirred controversy and sparked discussions about the ethical responsibilities of climbers on Everest. Some argued that the climbers should have prioritised saving a life over reaching the summit, while others pointed out the harsh realities of high-altitude climbing, where the conditions can be life-threatening even for experienced climbers.

Summiteers/Expeditions
Manaslu, a high mountain in Nepal

Jakob Urth attempted summit Lhotse supported by Asian Trekking.[23]

See also

References
  1. "UIAA | Ang Tshering SHERPA UIAA". UIAA. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  2. "Himalayan Database Expedition Archives of Elizabeth Hawley". himalayandatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  3. "Japanese woman, 73, scales Everest for the second time". Reuters. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  4. Service, Himalayan News (2021-05-25). "Zhang Hong becomes first blind Chinese man to scale Everest". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  5. "Mexican climber David Liano Gonzalez sets Mount Everest record with double summit". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  6. Monica (2017-10-12). "First ascents of Mt Burke Khang, Larkya Lha South East Wall". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  7. "Climbers to mark 70 years of Everest summit amid climate concerns". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  8. Benavides, Angela (2022-12-06). "Will Everest Base Camp Move Next Spring? » Explorersweb". Explorersweb. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  9. "UIAA | Eco Expeditions of Asian Trekking Agency helps clean Mount Everest in a environmentally sustainable way while climbing the world's highest mountain UIAA". UIAA. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  10. Eco Everest
  11. Asian-Trekking International Everest Expedition 2001
  12. Everest 2009: tragedy and sorrow with eleven fatalities on various peaks this season
  13. Asian Trekking's Eco, Lumbini to Everest, & Peace Expeditions Update, April 29
  14. http://www.himalayandatabase.com/2009%20Season%20Lists/2009%20Spring%20A16.html
  15. Asian Trekking's Mt.Everest North Side (Tibet) Summit
  16. Grand Forks climber helps after devastating Mt. Everest earthquake
  17. The Independent - Cold mountain: Death on Everest
  18. "Dispatch 19: Massive Collapse in Khumbu Icefall Claims the Lives of Three Sherpa Climbers". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  19. Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season By Nick Heil - Page 171
  20. Telegraph - Summit Fever
  21. Odd Spending -The Economics of Everest By Katherine Tarbox Jan. 23, 2012
  22. Summits on Everest, Lhotse and Shishapangma Central
  23. "Asian Trekking's Eco, Lumbini to Everest, & Peace Expeditions Update, April 29".
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