Nepal brothers to begin 24-hour Everest stay

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-13-2009 09:20

Three Sherpa brothers hope to set a record for time spent on the summit of Mount Everest. The brothers boarded a plane in Katmandu for a flight to the foothills of Everest on Sunday.

Nepalese Sherpa brothers, from right, Nima Gyalzen,  Pemba Dorje, and Phurba Tenzing pose with the statue of  Lord Buddha before leaving Katmandu, Nepal, Sunday, April 12, 2009. The brothers hoping to set a new record by  spending 24 hours at the top of the world set out Sunday for the summit of Mount Everest.(AP Photo/Binod Joshi)

Pemba Dorje, 31, Nima Gyalzen, 23, and Phurba Tenzing, 20, plan to reach the 8,850-meter summit in May. There, they will attempt to spend 24 hours in an area called "the death zone" because of its extreme conditions. Most climbers linger just long enough to take a photograph from the top of the world.

The brothers plan to leave icons from Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam at the peak, as well as a golden Buddha and the national flag, which was presented by Nepal's President Yadav.

They are all experienced climbers and say they are confident about the trip. Between the three of them, the Sherpa brothers have climbed Mount Everest 16 times. And the eldest raced up the world's highest mountain in a mere eight hours and 10 minutes. He now holds the record for the fastest-ever ascent.

Editor:Zhang Yun