A Sherpa guide has set a world record as the fastest climber of Mount Everest, scaling the world's highest peak Saturday in 20 hours and 24 minutes, expedition organizers said.
Kaji Sherpa, 34, started his trek from a base camp at 17,500 feet at 4 p.m. local time on Friday and reached the 29,028-foot summit Saturday afternoon. Under favorable weather conditions, climbers usually take two to four days to make the climb to the summit from the base camp.Kaji reached the 28,700-foot mark at 6 a.m., but bad weather and high winds slowed him. After stopping for three hours, he resumed his climb.
In October 1990, French alpinist Marc Bertard set the speed record by climbing Everest in 22 hours and 29 minutes.
Kaji, who has climbed Everest four times, had hoped to make the climb in 18 hours or less.
Sherpas are known for their mountaineering skill. They were mostly yak herders and traders living high in the Himalayas until Nepal opened its borders to tourism in 1950. Their stamina and knowledge of the mountains makes them expert guides and porters.