With the controversial summit from the Tibet side by 13 year old Jordan Romero, China seems to feel enough is enough. Starting this fall, 2010, climbers must be between 18 and 60 to be issued a permit.
This was announced by the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) who manages mountaineering in Tibet. In a report they said
In a surprising decision, CTMA said climbers applying for a permit to attempt the 8848m peak – and any other Himalayan ranges from the north or Tibet — would have to be at least 18. The Chinese authorities have imposed an upper age limit as well – 60 – which would also frustrate any further attempts to set a new record for the oldest climber from the Tibet side.
However, there does seem to be a loophole:
Though CTMA said climbers not falling in this age group would be considered if they were able to provide medical certificates showing they were fit to make the attempt, sources said Romero would continue to retain his record since the Chinese authorities would not consider anyone below 16, the minimum age for climbers in Nepal.
This week, Sherpa Pemba Dorje announced that he wanted to find a younger climber to summit in 2011 saying that all Everest records should belong to Nepalese
“Nepal is a small country and we do not get much good publicity. I want to take an 11- or 12-year-old to the summit because I think all the Everest records should be held by Nepalese people.”
He was quoted as saying they would climb from Nepal and the tourism ministry had agreed to make an exception to their 16 year-old minimum age for a Nepalese child seeking to break the American’s record.
The oldest Everest summiter was 76-year-old Bahadur Sherchan, from Nepal, on May 26, 2008. Tamae Watanabe of Japan is the oldest woman to summit at age 63 on May 16, 2002. 80 year old Former Foreign Minister of Nepal, Mr. Sailendra Kumar Upadhyaya has already announced that he wants to attempt to set the age record but has not made the effort, yet.
It will be interesting to see how this all turns out and if common sense will trump national interest. However, I feel we will see more records from young, and old, Chinese and Nepali climbers.
Climb On!
Alan
Thank goodness for that. It’s great for kids to have dreams, and to believe they can do whatever they want to do with their lives and they can — when they’re 18.
On a day when we’re waiting to hear the fate of Abby Sunderland, this is terrific news for the wellbeing of children everywhere.
Jordan’s summit was amazing, he has done other summits so he was well prepared for Everest, he didn’t just decide to do it on a whim he was obviously a strong young climber. I feel all Everest climbers should do at least one 8,000 metre peak before Everest or doDenali. Sad though if over 60′s are to old to climb, Many people in there 60′s are still young for there age and very fit and strong and are still enjoying climbing with Everest as a goal in the future.
FYI: I summited from the South Side and in order to get Nepal’s Certificate of summiting I had to give the Ministry of Tourism two passport photos and a photo of me on the summit.
Alan, not trying to be a nay sayer I did take a look and again I saw close up video of Jordan ( and others) without seeing the surrounding area and I saw wide angle video of the mountain and surrounding range again, without Jordan in any of the frame. Is there any photos or video of Jordan where the camera is 10-20 feet away with a surrounding angle of view like the stand mountaineers pose or wide angle group photos and not just close up chest high photos?
Has anyone seen any photos of the Romero’s summit which undisputedly(sp) shows them on the summit? I have not been able to find any on their website, their blog, their TV interviews, or anything. The only video and photos that I have found are too close up to verify the surrounding area. Regardless if they did or did not this whole things smells of another boy in a balloon. Really sad that this is happening to climbing and lets hope it can be contained at Everest.
Scott on the 20/20 piece you can see him on the summit at the 7:26 mark.
Lets cut the argument and the race
Why not take a pregnant woman to the top to give birth and hold the record………………………
These records and races are getting sadder and more pathetic by the minute.
I don’t know what to think anymore of what was once a beautiful sport. When egos get in the way
I guess this is what you are left with.
Sad or so sad
Good. The loophole allows people still fit enough over 60 to climb. Having a minimum age is necessary. How sad for Pemba Dorje that he wants to drag some poor kid up there.