May 2007

Nepal Mountaineering Association

Issue-18

Nomination- 6 May

Letter received from Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) on 30 April 2007 has nominated NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa as an advisor of the Advisory Committee formed for Adventure Travel World Summit 2007.

South East Asia Road Show

NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa along with Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will participate in South East Asia Road Show 2007 to be held in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia from 4-8 June, 2007. He will distribute Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration Medal, which is due to Mt. Everest Summiteers of the respected nations.

Nepal Travel Media Association- 6 May

Central Secretariat Meeting held on 6 May 2007 decided upon to assist financially to Nepal Travel Media Association for national seminar on Peace and Press: Vital forces for Tourism Development.

Training for staff- 6 May

Mr. Jinesh Sindurakar, Secretariat Officer of NMA will participate in 18 hours Professional English Writing Course to be held at British Council starting from 10 May 2007. Similarly, Mr. Aakash Parajuli, staff of International Mountain Museum will participate in Basic Web Course at NIIT, Pokhara Centre. Both of the courses are supported by NMA.

Central Secretariat- 16 May

Central Secretariat meeting held on 16 May 2007 decided to construct the statue of late chief advisor late Dr. Harka Gurung for the museum to be constructed at Besi Sahar of Lamjung District. The meeting also welcomed the proposal forwarded to Government of Nepal to ban strike on 16 essential travel trade services.

Apa Sherpa's 17th successful ascent on Mt. Everest- 17 May

Nepal's celebrated mountaineer and NMA Advisor Mr. Appa Sherpa scaled Mount Everest for 17th time on Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 8:45 morning. He was leading a 2-member team of Sherpas on a charity climb to raise education funds for children of mountain guides.

Book released- 17 May

Famous Everest Summiteers Mr. Apa Sherpa and Mr. Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa jointly released the travelogue book "Sagarmatha ko Aadhar Sibir bata (From the Everest Basecamp)" at 8:45 am on the summit of Mt. Everest. The book was written by Mr. Prateek Dhakal, an Ex-officio Member representing Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in Executive Board of NMA. This event marks both the record holder climbers as the first book releaser on the top of the world.

Mt. Amadablam Cleaning Campaign 2007- 19 May

In annual program of NMA, this year NMA with cooperation with its Environment Committee launched a Mt. Amadablam Clean-up Campaign. Committee Convener/ Executive Member Mr. Deepak Poudel with Mr. Sarki Tamang took up this challenge personally. The cleaning took place up to third camp of Mt. Amadamlam and 95 kg of burnable garbage and 48 kg of recycle garbage were collected. But one of the hardest garbage to collect was the frozen ropes left behind by the previous expeditions of which 5,500 m were of it cut and brought down to the base. The collected garbage was handed over to the SPCC for the systematic disposal. In total, 18 personnel were involved for 15 days.

Death of mountaineer - 21 May

Record holder mountaineer Ms. Pema Doma Sherpa died on 21 May 2007 while descending from the summit of Mt. Lhotse. She was swept away by avalanche. She held the record for being first Nepali woman to climb Mt. Everest from North and South sides.

Memorandum of Understanding signed - 24 May

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) on 24 May 2007 to jointly work in the field of adventure tourism. ATTA is the international umbrella organization of professionals associated with adventure travel trade, based in USA. NMA President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa signed on behalf of NMA where as Mr. Chris Doyle, Director, ATTA signed on behalf of ATTA.

Mt. Everest Clean up campaign- 25 May 2007

NMA along with Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation sponsored Everest Summiteers Association (ESA), who is our institutional member for the ever on going Everest Clean up program. Mr. Diwas Pokhrel, Executive Member of NMA represented NMA for the program. He is also General Secretary of ESA. The cleaning campaign collected 1500 kg of garbage of which 200 kg were burnable and 1300 kg were recycled garbage.

UAAA Council Meeting, Tokyo- 28 June 2007

Board Meeting held on 28 May approved the invitation received from UAAA for UAAA Council Meeting to be held on 9 June 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. NMA Treasurer Mr. Ang Kaji Sherpa and Mr. Santa Bir Lama, Board Member will participate in the meeting.

Introductory Wall Competition, Pokhara- 3 & 4 June 2007

Board Meeting of NMA held on 14 May 2007 endorsed the request from NMA's Annapurna Chapter to organize 1st Introductory Wall Climbing Competition in International Mountain Museum, Pokhara to mark the Annapurna Day. The Introductory Wall Climbing was organized with the joint effort of Training Committee, IMM Committee and NMA- Annapurna Chapter. There were 26 participants in total and 3 judges of which 16 were male and 10 were ladies. Cash Prize of Rs. 2000. Rs.1500 and Rs. 1000 were handed over to the first, second and third place winners from male and female contenders. Honorable Legislature Mr. Mahadev Gurung was the chief guest.

World Environment Day- 5 June 2007

In annual program of NMA this year, NMA participated in awareness program in Jamacho by cleaning the area. 55 members in total went to Jamacho at 7:00 am on 5 June for the program. Lots of garbage and old pray flags were collected from the top of Jamacho. In addition, NMA has set up one pole of 15 ft and 4 poles of 12 ft in an appropriate place around Jamacho so that all the devotees can tie their pray flags on the poles instead of the trees. The program concluded at 4pm.