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MFA Agri Services River Hills - CLICK - MFA CONNECT Perryville, Farmington Bulk Plant, & Ste. Genevieve, MO.
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05/11 19:40 CDT Photos show climbers attempting to scale Mount Everest despite
increasing challenges
Photos show climbers attempting to scale Mount Everest despite increasing
challenges
By PASANG RINZEE SHERPA
Associated Press
Hundreds of climbers are attempting to scale Mount Everest despite an unstable
ice block dangerously hanging over the key trail, high travel costs and
increased permit fees.
Around 492 climbers and an equal number of Nepali climbing guides are gearing
up for the ascent to the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) high summit this month
during the much-anticipated window of good weather on the world's highest
mountain.
Climbers began gathering in April at the base camp, which is at an altitude of
5,300 meters (17,340 feet.) But for more than two weeks a massive and unstable
block of ice, or serac, stalled them from moving further up the peak.
The serac is part of the Khumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier with
deep crevasses and huge pieces of overhanging ice that can be as big as a
10-story building. The section is considered one of the most difficult and
trickiest to climb.
Ang Tshering Sherpa, a mountaineering expert in Nepal, said there are a good
number of climbers on Mount Everest this season despite the Iran war and
increased travel costs. The number of climbers from the U.S. and European
countries has decreased, but there has been a rise in the number of Asian
climbers.
Mount Everest straddles the Nepal-China border, although China has closed its
route this year, leaving climbers to make their attempts from Nepal on the
south side.
