Renowned American climber climbs rare Everest ‘triple crown’

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, and other peaks of the Himalayas are seen from the window of an airplane during a mountain flight from Kathmandu, Nepal, January 15, 2020. REUTERS/Monika Deupala

Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Renowned US mountain guide ZA has achieved the “triple crown” of the rare Everest region by climbing three peaks – Mount Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse – in a single season, a travel company spokesman said on Friday.

Garret Madison, 44, climbed Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak, at 8,516 meters (27,939 feet) on Thursday, the day after he made his 13th ascent of Everest at 8,849 meters. (29,032 feet), the world’s tallest mountain, said Ishwari Poudel of Himalayan Guides, which helps Madison with logistics.

Madison, who owns Madison Mountaineering in Seattle, climbed the smaller but technically challenging 7,855-meter (25,770-foot) summit of Nuptse on May 8.

“It is very difficult to climb all three peaks in one season, and few other climbers have managed to do it,” Paudel said.

Poudel said Madison was accompanied by three Sherpa climbers on all three summits.

“We are very proud of the team and this huge achievement,” Madison said on his company website.

British climber Kenton Cool, who climbed the triple crown in 2013, said Garrett was a “deadpan expedition leader” who calmly went about his job.

“When I climbed what became known as the Triple Crown in one season, I said I wouldn’t do it again for 10 years,” Kool told Reuters in a text message.

“Now I’m happy that 10 years later, it was Garrett who managed to accomplish the same feat… bravo!!”

Krutoy, 49, last week set a new record of 17 ascents of Everest, the world’s highest peak, by a foreign climber.

Nepalese Sherpa Kami Rita this week climbed Everest for the 28th time, the most among climbers.