Sherpa conquers Everest for 19th time
A Nepalese Sherpa guide broke his own record by scaling Mount Everest for the 19th time.
Ang Tshering of the Nepal Mountaineering Association said Appa, who like most Sherpas goes by one name, reached the 29,035-foot high peak early today accompanied by a few other guides while guiding foreign clients.
Earlier today British explorer Ranulph Fiennes scaled the peak for the first time at his third attempt.
Mr Tshering said Appa and the rest of team are safe and are now returning to lower camps after spending a few minutes at the peak.
Appa first climbed Everest in 1989 and has done so almost every year since.
His closest rival is fellow Sherpa guide Chhewang Nima, who has scaled the mountain 15 times.
Appa moved to the US in 2006 and lives in Draper, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City.
