Hundreds of mountaineers begin to return from Everest summit

KATHMANDU: Hundreds of climbers who scaled Mt Everest over the last few days taking advantage of favourable weather conditions have begun to return safely down the mountain. Among them are climbers who set records on the world's highest peak, including the first Ukrainian woman to scale Mount Everest. [gallery link="file" columns="1" size="full" ids="23535,23536"] A Nepali Sherpa broke her own record reaching the 8,849 metres (29,032-foot) summit for the 10th time — the most times any woman has climbed Mt Everest. Lakpa Sherpa, 48, said she is next planning to scale the world's second-highest peak, K2 in Pakistan. "K2 season is coming very soon," she said on Tuesday. Sherpa, who lives in the US with her three children in West Hartford, Connecticut, started her climbing career carrying gear and supplies for other trekkers. [caption id="attachment_23538" align="alignnone" width="1000"] British mountaineer Kenton Cool who successfully completed his 16th summit of Mt Everest arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Photo: AP via RSS[/caption] British climber Kenton Cool, who scaled Everest for the 16th time, set the record for the most Everest summits by a non-Nepali climber. Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record with 26 summits after breaking his own record earlier this month. [caption id="attachment_23534" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Ukrainian mountaineer Antonina Samoilova arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport after climbing Mount Everest, in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Photo: AP via RSS[/caption] Ukrainian climber Antonina Samoilova said she hoped her achievement would call more attention to the war in her country. "My main message for the climb was to bring the attention of all the countries and governments of countries to be aware that in Ukraine we have still war and Ukrainian people are still fighting for their freedom for their future," she said. "We need help from all sides." [caption id="attachment_23537" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Italian climber Andrea Lanfri, 36, gestures as he arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Photo: AP via RSS[/caption] Hundreds of foreign climbers and an equal number of Sherpa guides had signed up to attempt climbs of Everest this month when weather conditions in the Himalayan peaks are most favourable. By RSS/AP READ ALSO:

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