KATHMANDU:  Two Nepali mountain guides have been awarded with the prestigious climbing honour for their voluntary role in high-altitude rescue operations at Mera Peak.

South Korean Ambassador to Nepal Park Tae-Young, on behalf of the Korean Alpine Rescue Association and the Government of South Korea, honoured IFMGA/NNMGA guides - Riten Tashi Sherpa and Ashish Gurung- for carrying out a rescue mission by recovering the body of a Korean climber last October. This is the first ever highest honour from Korea to Nepal's mountain guides.

“The duo were presented with the golden ice axes and appreciation plaques, which were sent by Roh Ick Song, President of the Korean Alpine Rescue Association,” said Tul Singh Gurung president at Nepal National Mountain Guide Association. An appreciation plaque was also handed over to the NNMGA in recognition of its institutional support during the rescue mission. Golden Ice Axe" (Piolet d'Or) in Korea refers to prestigious mountaineering awards, especially the Piolet d'Or Asia events held in Seoul recognizing top Asian climbers.

Veteran guides with extensive high-altitude experience

Riten Tashi Sherpa (also known as Riten Jangbu Sherpa) is an IFMGA/UIAGM-certified mountain guide with more than 15 years of professional experience in Himalayan climbing, rescue operations, and instructor training. He has summited major peaks including Everest, Lhotse, Manaslu, Ama Dablam, K2 (up to Camp IV), Broad Peak, and several 7,000-metre peaks.

His career in adventure tourism began in 2007 as an assistant trekking guide, eventually transitioning to leading international expeditions on major peaks starting in 2012. He is recognized as an expert in rock climbing, ice climbing, and technical rescue operations. Furthermore, he has evolved from an elite sport climbing competitor into a qualified route setter and judge.

Sherpa has been involved in numerous high-risk rescue and recovery missions, including operations during the 2015 Everest earthquake, multiple crevasse rescues, avalanche evacuations, and aircraft crash recovery missions. Most recently, in 2025, he was involved in recovery and rescue missions on Mt, Mera Peak and Yalung Ri. He currently serves as an instructor  at NNMGA, NMA and Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC) and also technical committee member at NNMGA and has trained aspiring guides and rescuers across Nepal.

Ashish Gurung, an IFMGA-certified mountain guide and expedition leader, hails from Sankhuwasabha district at the foothills of Mt Makalu. He began his mountaineering career in 2010 and has since built an extensive résumé that includes five summits of Mt Everest, three summits of Lhotse, and multiple ascents of Ama Dablam, along with over 50 successful climbs of 6,000-metre peaks.

Gurung has also taken part in several high-altitude rescue and body recovery operations, including missions on Everest, Kongma La Pass, and Mera Peak. In addition to guiding, he is actively involved in training young Nepali climbers and professional guides, teaching mountain rescue, rock climbing, and expedition safety.