KATHMANDU: A Chinese couple, along with other climbers, scaled Mt Nuptse in the Everest region, becoming the first from China to stand atop the 7,855-metre mountain.

According to Dawa Steven Sherpa, Managing Director at Asian Trekking, husband-and-wife climbers Chen Tao “Qiangzi” and Chang Huan from China, supported by Thilen Bhote and Tenjing Bhote of Asian Trekking, became the first from China to scale Mt Nuptse this morning.

“Tenzing David Sherpa, Director of Asian Trekking, also scaled Nuptse as he plans to complete the triple crown – Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse – in a single season,” Dawa Steven added.

According to him, this achievement was made possible through close cooperation between Asian Trekking and Seven Summit Treks, who worked together to fix the route on Nuptse.

The three rope fixers who opened the way to the summit today were Ming Temba Sherpa from SST, and Wangja Bhote and Sukra Tamang from Asian Trekking. Kristin Harila, climbing with SST, also summited today without the use of supplemental oxygen, Dawa Steven informed.

This summit is a proud milestone for Chinese mountaineering, with Qiangzi and Chang Huan becoming the first Chinese climbers to summit Nuptse. “This also completes Qiangzi’s triple crown achievement of summiting all three peaks: Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse,” he added.

Nuptse summiteers:

· Ming Temba Sherpa (SST) – 10:55 am
· Wangja Bhote (AT) – 11:27 am
· Sukra Tamang (AT) – 11:34 am
· Chen Tao “Qiangzi” (AT) – 12:20 pm
· Chang Huan (AT) – 12:20 pm
· Tenjing Bhote (AT) – 12:20 pm
· Kristin Harila (SST) – 12:45 pm
· Tenzing David Sherpa (AT) – 1:00 pm
· Thilen Bhote (AT) – 1:00 pm