The Everest Summiteers’ Association (ESA), in collaboration with the government, Eco Himal, Nepal Mountaineering Association and Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, have brought tonnes of waste collected from Mount Everest to Kathmandu. As some of the waste collected include oxygen cylinders, helicopter debris, metals etc that  dates back to as early as the 1950s, the association members have requested the Nepalese government to archive these in the museum.

A sherpa collecting waste dumped at Mount Everest by mountaineers

(Photo: Namgyal Sherpa)

Dedicated to the mountains , its people and environment and to mountaineers, the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara was built under the aegis of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), with the support of various international and national groups, individuals and organizations. The museum was formally inaugurated on May 2002 by famous Everest summitters – Ms. Junko Tabei from Japan and Appa Sherpa from Nepal. Built on 12.6 acres land, with a display area of more than 4200 sq.mt, the International Mountain Museum was opened for public viewing on 5th February, 2004. Posted below are some images of the museum  captured by Samir Shrestha.

(Photos : Samir Shrestha)

Today, ie May 13th, marks the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Dhaulagiri(8167m). It was on 13th May 1960 that a joint team of Swiss and Austrian mountaineers reached the summit of Mt.Dhaulagiri.

For the Golden Jubilee celebration , Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is organizing various programmes in Pokhara on May 13th and Beni and Baglung on May 14th. The organizers will be felicitating Austrian climber Kurt Diemberger(78 years), the only surviving member among the summitters. Incidentally Diemberger  is also the only living climber to have made  first ascents on two  8,000 meters peaks (Dhaulagiri & Broad Peak).

Kurt Diemberger- The only surviving member of the 1960  Swiss-Austrian team that made the first ascent to Dhaulagiri(8167m).