Three mountaineers aiming to become the first Myanmar nationals to summit Mount Everest are more than halfway through their journey, having climbed higher than any of their predecessors.
Phae Phyo Aung, Win Ko Ko and Nyi Nyi Aung, all from the Technical Climbing Club of Myanmar mountaineers, were scheduled to reach Base Camp 2, at 21,000 feet, today, according to a report by MITV.
They successfully scaled the hazardous Khumbu Ice Fall, a steep and constantly shifting glacier nicknamed the ‘Ballroom of Death’, on April 17.
The Myanmar team climb the Khumbu Ice Fall on April 17. Photo: Technical Climbing Club of Myanmar / Facebook
The group’s spirits seem to be high enough – on April 12, they posted a series of awesome photos to celebrate Thingyan New Year.
The world’s highest peak, Mount Everest stands at 29,029 feet. Hundreds of people attempt the summit during each year’s climbing season, which begins in April. More than 200 have died on its slopes.
The Myanmar team hopes to return home on June 6 – after planting the Myanmar flag on the top of the mountain.
Before leaving the country, Win Ko Ko told the press he was expecting a safe journey.
“For our safety, I have been a member of Global Resuce [a travel risk and crisis management firm] for about one year,” he said. “So I believe that long trips are also safe and a great way of improving team work, leadership skills and decision making.”
No Myanmar climbers have summited Everest, but in 2013 Myanmar Times photographer Boothee Thaik Htun and David Mo Tun Kyaw had to be rescued by helicopter after getting snowed in at Base Camp.
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