Dawa Steven Sherpa and Team Felicitated at ICIMOD

Dawa Steven Sherpa, Leader of the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 along with three fellow climbers - David Liano from Mexico, Walter Laserer and Helmut Linzbichler from Austria - were congratulated at the ICIMOD Headquarters in Kathmandu on 2 June 2008 for their successful ascent on Mt. Everest (8848 m) on 26 May at 6:55am local time.

Dawa Steven and David Liano also scaled Mt. Lhotse (8501m) on 21 May before ascending Mt. Everest. Dawa Steven and David scaled both the peaks within five days. In 2006, Dawa Steven climbed his first peak above 8000m, Mt. Cho Oyu from the north side in China.

Mr. Milan Raj Tuladhar, acting Director General of ICIMOD congratulated the climbers with traditional kada and acknowledged Dawa Steven’s contribution in dedicating the expedition to one of the pressing issues of our times, “Climate Change in the Himalaya”. He also mentioned Dawa Steven’s efforts bringing awareness to the people of Khumbu on the impact of global warming on the Himalayan glaciers, leading to possible glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

Mr. Basanta Shrestha, Division Head of Mountain Environment and Natural Resources’ Information Centre (MENRIS) and leader of the research team, also spoke highlighting the importance of the expedition in combating climate change, building awareness of the local community and promoting eco friendly alternative technologies. He also acknowledged the contribution and support of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Asian Trekking and other cooperation and research partners.

Dawa Steven shared with ICIMOD his ‘Everest experience’ with some very interesting photographs taken on the top of the world. Captured in the lens were the team members posing with the Nepalese flag, ICIMOD 25th Anniversary banner, as well as the Eco Everest and Asian Trekking banners. Says Dawa Steven, “Mountaineering on Everest and Lhotse has been particularly difficult with relatively less snow this year and the quick melting ice. The mountaineers faced tremendous risk because of this.” He further added that they had to walk on the slippery rocks instead of the snow with their crampons. A terrifying moment occurred when he slipped on one of the rocks at the Hillary Step near the peak of Everest but luckily he was safely attached to the fixed ropes!

Mr. Samjwal Bajracharya, a member of the Eco Everest Expedition research team, through his presentation, highlighted how the outburst of Dig Tsho in 1985 has changed the landscape of the Langmoche valley and threatened the villages downstream with continuous landslides and soil erosion even after 23 years of the event.