KATHMANDU: Visiting United States' Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor visited Everest Base Camp this morning.

According to base camp officials, Gor, along with high-level US officials, reached the base camp and met with Mike Harker, the Public Affairs Chief of the US Embassy in Kathmandu, who is attempting to scale the world’s highest mountain this spring season.

“Gor wished Harker success for his Everest attempt,” officials who were present at the camp said. Harker, the first US diplomat attempting Mt Everest, has already climbed Lobuche peak twice for acclimatisation.

Gor, who arrived in Kathmandu last evening, flew to Lukla by helicopter this morning. He made several landings, including at Dingboche, Pangboche, and Surke, due to unstable weather. “Gor also took a mountain flight from the base camp, enjoying the view of the mountain range including Everest and Lhotse,” officials added.

An initial plan to test American FreeFly’s drone flight from the base camp was cancelled for several reasons in the last hour, officials informed. However, a demo was conducted to formally launch FreeFly’s drone at Everest Base Camp in the presence of Special Envoy Gor, officials added. 

Clad in a "Trump Force One" coat, Gor, along with Acting US Ambassador and Chargé d'Affaires Scott Urbom, attended a demonstration of American FreeFly's drone, officials said.

 "An officials' test flight was not held, though they cited some other reasons."

Courtesy: Base Camp Officials 

"According to the plan, the FreeFly Systems’ drone was supposed to be used to ferry garbage from the high camps on Mount Everest this season." The team from Airlift Technology, which has also been successfully operating a Chinese DJI drone there for over two years, has already arrived at the base camp to help operate the American drone, officials shared. While briefing at the base camp, US officials also highlighted that they wanted to introduce American technology there to address the garbage problem on Mt Everest.

During his stay in Kathmandu, Gor – who is also the US Ambassador to India – will engage with senior government officials and business leaders.

Meanwhile, as a follow-up event to the Harker’s Everest bid, the US Embassy is planning the Ascent Summit on May 31 in Kathmandu to discuss mountain, environment, garbage management, and drone technologies, among other issues. 

Mt Everest has received 464 foreign climbers including 100 Chinese nationals, the largest, followed by 67 from the United States. Separate teams of scientists and geologists from the both countries (Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society) also reached the base camp to study mountain environment this season, according to the Department of Tourism.