As many as 26 climbers of five different expeditions have scaled Mt. Qomolangma on Wednesday from the Nepali side, local media reported on Thursday.

 

According to nepalnews.com website, among them were 18 Nepalis, including Appa Sherpa who scaled Mt. Qomolangma for the record 17th time, two Norwegians, three South Koreans, one Swede and two Americans.

 

Similarly, Karma Sherpa, a 29-year-old journalist with state-owned Nepal Television also scaled the world's highest peak Wednesday.

 

He was part of the "Nepal Television-Lions Everest (Qomolangma) Expedition-2007", an all-Nepali expedition team led by Wangchu Sherpa.

 

By making the successful ascent of Mt.Qomolangma, Karma Sherpa has become the second journalist to reach atop the highest peak.

 

Before him, Ang Chhiring Sherpa of Kantipur Daily was the first journalist from the South Asian region to scale Mt.Qomolangma.

 

According to Ministry of culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, a total of 22 teams received permission to scale Mt. Qomolangma this season, of which three teams are all Nepali teams.

 

May is the best time for climbing Mt. Qomolangma.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2007)