21-Time Everest Climber Is Going for a Different Record
By Michael Frank, Adventure Journal on January 3rd, 2012
On January 15, Apa Sherpa, who holds the world record of summiting Mount Everest 21 times, and Dawa Steven Sherpa, who has reached the peak twice, will take part in a marathon walkathon starting in Ghunsa in eastern Nepal and ending in Darchula in the far west. They’ll cover the entire, 1,000-mile Great Himalayan Trail, thought to be one of the toughest hikes you could try, since the bulk of it is at 18,000 feet or higher. The duo are trying to raise awareness for sustainability and climate change in the Himalayas, which researchers believe are apt to be among the most drastically impacted regions. The GHT traverses many of the poorest regions of the mountain range as well, and the two aim to highlight how the world’s poor are especially harmed by climate change. One way they’ll get more TV coverage: A parade of Bollywood stars and other celebrities will join them along the way.
