Asian Trekking

Asian Trekking facilitates the climbs of many summits, including Mount Everest. The company offers trekking and climbing packages, expert guides, and logistical support to clients. Amongst its accolades, it has successfully guided: the world's oldest female on the summit of Everest;{{Cite news |date=2012-05-19 |title=Japanese woman, 73, scales Everest for the second time |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-nepal-everest-idUKLNE84I00G20120519 |access-date=2023-08-01}} the first blind Asian man on Everest;{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Himalayan News |date=2021-05-25 |title=Zhang Hong becomes first blind Chinese man to scale Everest |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/zhang-hong-becomes-first-blind-chinese-man-to-scale-everest |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}} the first double summit of Mt. Everest in one season (from Nepal and Tibet);{{Cite web |title=Mexican climber David Liano Gonzalez sets Mount Everest record with double summit |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/mexican-climber-david-liano-gonzalez-sets-mount-everest-record-with-double-summit-523811 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=NDTV.com}} the first ascent of Mt. Burke Khang (6942 meters){{Cite web |last=Monica |date=2017-10-12 |title=First ascents of Mt Burke Khang, Larkya Lha South East Wall |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/first-ascents-of-mt-burke-khang-larkya-lha-south-east-wall |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=The Himalayan Times |language=en}} and Dragmarpo Ri.

Asian Trekking claims to have a commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental conservation.{{Cite web |title=Climbers to mark 70 years of Everest summit amid climate concerns |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/26/climbers-to-mark-70-years-of-everest-summit-amid-climate-concerns |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Benavides |first=Angela |date=2022-12-06 |title=Will Everest Base Camp Move Next Spring? » Explorersweb |url=https://explorersweb.com/will-everest-base-camp-move-next-spring/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Explorersweb}} The company has been involved in initiatives aimed at preserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and supporting local communities. Asian Trekking has organized the clean up of over 25,000 kg of garbage from the slopes of Mt. Everest.{{Cite web |title=UIAA {{!}} Eco Expeditions of Asian Trekking Agency helps clean Mount Everest in a environmentally sustainable way while climbing the world's highest mountain UIAA |url=https://theuiaa.org/uiaa/eco-expeditions-of-asian-trekking-agency-helps-clean-mount-everest-in-a-environmentally-sustainable-way-while-climbing-the-worlds-highest-mountain-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321212619/https://theuiaa.org/uiaa/eco-expeditions-of-asian-trekking-agency-helps-clean-mount-everest-in-a-environmentally-sustainable-way-while-climbing-the-worlds-highest-mountain-2/ |archive-date=2023-03-21 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=UIAA |language=en-US}} During the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Trekking partnered with the Swiss luxury brand Bally to attempt to clean the base camps of all 8000 meters peaks in Nepal.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-24 |title=BALLY Announces New Mountain Preservation Effort And A Dedicated Peak Outlook Foundation {{!}} TheSustainabilist |url=https://thesustainabilist.ae/bally-announces-new-mountain-preservation-effort-and-a-dedicated-peak-outlook-foundation/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=thesustainabilist.ae |language=en-US}}

In 1982, new businesses were only allowed to be established by those who were close to the royal palace or top government bureaucrats. However, Ang Tshering was advised by an expedition cook that a newly registered trekking company was for sale. These circumstances allowed Tshering to essentially start his own 'new' company.

After two years of organizing treks up other mountains in the region, such as Dhaulagiri, Asian Trekking organized its first expedition up Mount Everest. Ever since, Asian Trekking has organized treks up Mount Everest every year.

In 1996, Asian Trekking became the first trekking company in Nepal to launch a website.

Asian Trekking has organized multiple years of Eco Everest Expeditions, and often provides logistics for many expeditions.[http://www.everestnews.com/everest2009/ecoeverest04092009.htm Eco Everest] Asian Trekking supported the 2001 International Everest Expedition.[http://www.k2news.com/int.htm Asian-Trekking International Everest Expedition 2001] In 2009, Asian Trekking organized expeditions including the Eco Everest Expedition 2009, Atunas Taiwanese 7 Summit and Everest Expedition 2009, International Adventure Alternative Everest Expedition 2009, 7 Summit Club Everest Expedition 2009, Kazak Lhotse-Everest Expedition 2009, and Indo Bangladesh Mount Makalu Expedition.[http://www.everestnews.com/everest2009/ecoeverest06012009.htm Everest 2009: tragedy and sorrow with eleven fatalities on various peaks this season] Asian Trekking has supported expeditions on the North and South sides of Mount Everest, and also to Lhotse.[http://www.everestnews.com/everest2012/asiantrekking04302012.htm Asian Trekking's Eco, Lumbini to Everest, & Peace Expeditions Update, April 29]{{Cite web |title=2009 Season Lists |url=http://www.himalayandatabase.com/2009%20Season%20Lists/2009%20Spring%20A16.html |website=The Himalayan Database}} Asian Trekking has also supported International Dream Everest and Eco Everest Expedition trips to Mount Everest.[http://www.everestnews.com/everest2011/asiatreckingeverest05222011.htm Asian Trekking's Mt.Everest North Side (Tibet) Summit]

In the aftermath of the 2015 Mount Everest avalanche, Asian Trekking and Himex helped injured people at their camps.[http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/3731443-grand-forks-climber-helps-after-devastating-mt-everest-earthquake Grand Forks climber helps after devastating Mt. Everest earthquake]

Asian Trekking received media attention in 2006 when one of their clients, David Sharp, died near the summit. This event was involved in an international climbing ethics controversy.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/cold-mountain-death-on-everest-620716.html The Independent - Cold mountain: Death on Everest]{{Cite web |title=Dispatch 19: Massive Collapse in Khumbu Icefall Claims the Lives of Three Sherpa Climbers |url=http://www.greatoutdoors.com/published/dispatch-19-massive-collapse-in-khumbu-icefall-claims-the-lives-of-three-sherpa-climbers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924023558/http://www.greatoutdoors.com/published/dispatch-19-massive-collapse-in-khumbu-icefall-claims-the-lives-of-three-sherpa-climbers |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=2015-08-01}}

On May 14, 2006, Sharp encountered trouble at an altitude of approximately 8,500 meters (27,887 feet), where he faced a shortage of supplemental oxygen and adverse weather conditions.{{Cite web |last=Douglas |first=Ed |date=2006-08-15 |title=Over the Top |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/asia/over-top/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Outside Online |language=en-US}} Sharp's climb was witnessed by several climbers from different expeditions, who say his distress was evident. Due to the circumstances, the other climbers' priority was directed toward ensuring their own personal safety and continuing their ascent to the summit, making it difficult to assist Sharp.[https://books.google.com/books?id=R82YRMlkujYC&dq=vitor+asian+trekking&pg=PA171 Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season By Nick Heil - Page 171] {{cite news |title=Everest Base Camp Trek |url=https://highlandexpeditions.com/package/everest-base-camp-trek/}}

Sharp was climbing without any support from a guiding team, hiring Asian Trekking for base camp support only. It was his 3rd attempt on Everest and 5th time on an 8000m expedition, having been on Cho Oyu twice before. At the time of his death, David Sharp was found to be in possession of a receipt for US$7,490, believed to be the whole financial cost with Asian Trekking.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3662508/Summit-fever.html Telegraph - Summit Fever] Comparatively, fully guided expeditions range between US$30,000 and US$100,000.[https://business.time.com/2012/01/23/the-economics-of-everest/ Odd Spending -The Economics of Everest By Katherine Tarbox Jan. 23, 2012] The absence of action by the other climbers triggered debates and controversy regarding the ethical obligations of mountaineers on Everest. Some individuals, such as Edmund Hillary, contended that the climbers ought to have given precedence to saving a life rather than pursuing the summit, while others emphasized the severe challenges inherent in high-altitude climbing.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Wrong to let climber die, says Sir Edmund |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wrong-to-let-climber-die-says-sir-edmund/MZTUC2LSUQ2MQXPXQOLGOOQZBA/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} Also, the low-cost support may be part of the problem {{Cite web |last=Barrabi |first=Thomas |date=30 May 2019 |title=Mount Everest deaths: Why low-cost expeditions may be to blame |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/mount-everest-deaths-why-low-cost-expeditions-may-be-to-blame |access-date=30 July 2024 |website=Fox Business}}{{citations needed|date=December 2023}}

File:Manaslu, from base camp trip.jpg

• Everest 1984
• Hristo Prodanov
• Everest 2013
• Shera Gyalzen Sherpa[http://www.explorersweb.com/everest_k2/news.php?id=21484 Summits on Everest, Lhotse and Shishapangma Central]
• Pemba Tshering
• David Liano Gonzalez
• Samden Bhote
• Shishapangma 2013
• Zoltan Benedek
• Batman Lai Ulzii-Orshikh

Jakob Urth attempted summit Lhotse supported by Asian Trekking.{{Cite web|url=http://www.everestnews.com/everest2012/asiantrekking04302012.htm|title=Asian Trekking's Eco, Lumbini to Everest, & Peace Expeditions Update, April 29}}

• List of Mount Everest guides
• List of Mount Everest records
• List of Mount Everest expeditions
• Nepal Mountaineering Association
• Adventure Consultants
• Himex
• 1996 Mount Everest disaster

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.outsideonline.com/1909966/over-top Outside Magazine article Over the Top about commercial Everest summiting circa 2006] (Including some examples of A.T. clients)
• [https://asian-trekking.com/ Official website]

{{Mount Everest}}

Category:Adventure travel

Category:Climbing and mountaineering organizations

Category:Ecotourism

Category:Mountain guides

Category:Mount Everest