Yes! The country decided to scale the height of the mammoth mount only to measure its height.

In an expedition that begin in February 2018, Nepal’s Department of Survey (DoS) sent a team of 27 members to conduct this operation.

According to DoS, it is measuring the mount’s height after the massive 2015 earthquake devastated Nepal. Many countries have conducted expeditions on the mount bringing out different results on its height. However, Nepal has never been on an expedition to the tallest mountain within its boundary.

Height Scaled Until Now

DoS said, so far the measurement is complete up to 2,800 m from sea level.

Additionally, the team has installed temporary benchmarks within a gap of every 200 m and permanent ones in every 2 kms to eliminate any scope for error in measurement.

At ground level, the team has measured 170 km in distance from Madar in Siraha district to the southern edge of Sulukhubu district that is home to Mt. Qomolangma.

“We completed the work of precise leveling in 170-km-long distance from Madar to Solukhumbu. Now, we have to work on the 78-km-long distance to complete the work,” said Sushil Dangol, Coordinator, Everest Height Measurement Secretariat, DoS.

Rain Obstructs Survey

The progress of the mission was hindered due to rainy season throughout July, August, and September.

Resuming works on October 24, 2018, the Department sent the 27-member team with two tasks— continue precise leveling in Solukhumbu district and gravity observation works in several locations in districts surrounding Mt. Qomolangma.

“The work of precise leveling will be performed up to the height around 4,000 m from the sea level. Another mythology–trigonometrical leveling will be performed above the areas from 4,000 m because human and equipment cannot be taken there for the precise leveling easily,” said Bibek Nepal, Engineer at Everest Height Measurement Secretariat.

DoS has established a deadline of 2019-end for measurement competition and results.

Following are the height estimates made by several countries and survey groups:

• According to India’s 1954 survey, Nepal has so far recognized 8,848 m as Qomolangma’s altitude
• China which first estimated the mount’s height in 1975, reassessed its height at 8,844.43 and further 3.5 m with snow
• US National Geography and Museum of Science, Boston measured the height of the peak at 8,850 m including snow in 1999

 
DoS has planned to measure the height of the mountain with and without snow and rope in an international expert during data processing to claim international recognition for the achievement.

The post Nepal Scales World’s Tallest Mountain, Mt. Qomolangma appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Yes, here arrives the first Nepali photojournalist to scale-up the world’s highest peak Mount Qomolangma, and her name is Purnima Shrestha.

In her first such attempt, 27-year-old Purnima recently made her first-ever summit to the 8,848-meter-high Qomolangma or Sagarmatha of Nepal.

“Purnima Shrestha reached summit on May 19, 2018 at 8:10 A.M. local time,” read an official statement by Gyanendra Shrestha, an official from the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal.

Elated at Purnima’s success, the world record holder and a Qomolangma climber Temba Tsheri Sherpa said, “I feel very happy to share that she made it to the top along with other Chinese climbers in the team. The team will hopefully get back to base camp by Sunday,” on May 20, 2018.

Temba Tsheri also heads Sherpa Khangri Outdoor, a firm that handled Purnima’s expedition.

First of its Kind

Purnima belongs to the Gorkha District of Nepal and has been into the field of photo journalism since five years.

As part of her trek journey to the Qomolangma peak, Purnima also carried forward her love for photo journalism as evident in a special solo exhibition she organized in the Qomolangma region.

Along with the summit, Purnima also held a first-of-its-kind solo photo exhibition in the region under the theme ‘Smiling Nepali Women’.

The exhibition, also supported by Nepal Tourism Board and Photojournalists’ Club of Nepal (PJ Club), featured portraits of Nepali women belonging to all walks of life.

“Purnima has created a history by becoming the first Nepali photojournalist to reach the top of the world. It is a proud moment for all of us and it will definitely inspire other photojournalists to follow the path of dreams,” says Bikash Karki, Chairman of the PJ Club.

“The major objective of the exhibition is to promote Nepali culture and tourism of the country. It will enable the world climbers and trekkers gathering in the region to know other aspects of Nepal,”

As a photojournalist, Purnima has been associated with a Nepal-based National Daily newspaper and a magazine.

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