United States Climber Achieves Rare Everest ‘Triple Crown’ As Death Count Reaches 12

On Friday, a trekking firm said a prominent US mountain guide has completed the uncommon Mount Everest region ‘triple crown’ of climbing the Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse peaks in a single season, as the season’s death toll on the world’s highest mountain reached 12.

According to Ishwari Paudel of the Himalayan Guides firm, which is assisting Madison with logistics, Garrett Madison, 44, scaled Lhotse, the world’s fourth tallest peak, on Thursday, a day after completing his 13th ascent of Everest, at 8,849 metres (29,032 feet).

On May 8, Madison, who owns the Seattle-based company Madison Mountaineering, climbed the smaller but technically demanding Nuptse summit, which stands at 7,855 metres (25,770 feet).

Paudel said, “It is very difficult to climb all three peaks in a single season and only a few other mountaineers have done it”.

Separately, Department of Tourism director Khim Lal Gautam confirmed that Canadian national Petrus Albertyn Swart, 63, died on Thursday after becoming ill in the death zone on his way to the Everest summit, bringing the season’s overall death toll on the mountain to 12.

At least three more climbers are missing or have gone missing.

Madison was escorted by three sherpa climbers on all three peaks, according to hiking company official Paudel.

“We are extremely proud of the team and this tremendous accomplishment”, Madison stated on the company’s website.

British climber Kenton Cool, who completed the triple crown in 2013, described Garrett as an unflappable expedition leader who goes about his business calmly.

Cool said, “When I climbed what became known as the Triple Crown in one season, I said it wouldn’t be done again for 10 years”.

“I’m glad that 10 years later, Garrett has accomplished the same feat… bravo!!” Cool added.

Cool, 49, set a new foreign climber record of 17 climbs of Everest, the world’s highest mountain, last week.

This week, a Nepali named Kami Rita Sherpa scaled Everest for the 28th time, the most by any mountaineer.

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