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At 85, Nepali aims to regain title of oldest Everest climber

Nepalese mountain climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, smiles as he finishes his morning Yoga workout at his residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The 85-year-old climber who was once the oldest person to scale the world’s highest mountain is heading back to Mount Everest in hopes of scaling the peak and regaining the title. Sherchan is aiming to scale the peak next month when there is window of favorable weather on the summit. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Nepalese mountain climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, smiles as he finishes his morning Yoga workout at his residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The 85-year-old climber who was once the oldest person to scale the world’s highest mountain is heading back to Mount Everest in hopes of scaling the peak and regaining the title. Sherchan is aiming to scale the peak next month when there is window of favorable weather on the summit. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) Nepalese mountain climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, smiles as he finishes his morning Yoga workout at his residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The 85-year-old climber who was once the oldest person to scale the world’s highest mountain is heading back to Mount Everest in hopes of scaling the peak and regaining the title. Sherchan is aiming to scale the peak next month when there is window of favorable weather on the summit. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

By Associated Press 3 min read

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – A Nepali who was once the oldest climber to scale Mount Everest is attempting to regain that title, at age 85, with hopes that the feat will help him spread a message of peace.

Min Bahadur Sherchan plans to climb the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak next month during a window of favorable weather on the summit.

“I want to be the oldest person to scale Everest again to be an inspiration for humankind, a boost for the elderly people and an encouragement for youths,” Sherchan said Wednesday at his home in Kathmandu. “It will be a message for everyone that age is no obstacle to achieving their dreams.”

The grandfather of 17 and great-grandfather of six first scaled Everest in May 2008, when he was 76, but his record was broken by then 80-year-old Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura in 2013.

Sherchan’s attempt to climb Everest in 2013 was cut short because of financial problems and delays in getting the climbing permit. Another try in 2015 was canceled because an avalanche triggered by devastating earthquake swept the base camp, killing 19 people just a day before he reached the site.