Eight youths from Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality-1 of Kaski district have successfully climbed the 5587-meter-tall Mt Mardi.
Mt Mardi has become the choice of the domestic and foreign climbers of late. The youths summated the mountain for the promotion of trekking as well as climbing. The youths are all involved in the tourism sector. A 26-member team including the youths set out on an expedition to the mountain on September 28 under the leadership of tourism entrepreneur Ram Prasad Gurung.
The eight youths climbed the peak at 9.30 am on October 3, the Rural Municipality Chair, Karna Bahadur Gurung said. The eight successful climbers are Saroj Kumar Gurung, Sanjaya Thapa, Narayan Gurung, Sudip Tamang, Binod Pun, Bishal Magar, Ishwor Pariyar and Amrit Pun.
They were trained by Manman Gurung and Kumar Khadka. Mountaineering trainer Gurung is said to have made the arrangements for the logistics and climbing equipment. The 75-year-old Gurung had reached up to the High Camp of Mt Mardi, leading the expedition. The Mardi Mountain is close to the Great Machhapuchchhre Trail (GMT). One of the climbers, Saroj Gurung said they climbed the Mt Mardi under the promotional program for connecting the tourists coming for trekking in the GMT to mountaineering.
