Apa on climate change mission

Thursday, 26 January 2012 18:06

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LONDON: A Sherpa who has climbed Mount Everest a record 21 times, will trek hundreds of kilometers (miles) along some of the world's highest mountains to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayas, organizers said.

Apa Sherpa, 52, will be accompanied by two-time Everest climber Dawa Steven Sherpa on the grueling 1,700 km (1,062 mile) 120-day walk

The route passes along the length of Nepal's Himalayas going through the shadow of eight of the world's 14 highest mountains including the 8,850 meter (29,035 feet) Mount Everest to raise awareness of global warming.

"During the walk we will see the challenges faced by the local people in dealing with the effects of climate change on the remote and poor foothills of Himalayas," Sherpa told Reuters about the trek beginning next week.

Sherpa said he had written to global celebrities like U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore and Britain's Prince Harry inviting them to join him along some parts of his journey saying it would "make the world take notice of our dire situation." However he said none of them had confirmed participation.

"During the walk we will see the challenges faced by the local people in dealing with the effects of climate change on the remote and poor foothills of Himalayas," Sherpa told Reuters about the trek beginning next week

Sherpa said he had written to global celebrities like U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore and Britain's Prince Harry inviting them to join him along some parts of his journey saying it would "make the world take notice of our dire situation." However he said none of them had confirmed participation.

Environmental activists say the Himalayan glaciers, the source of several Asian rivers, are shrinking fast due to global warming threatening the lives of 1.3 billion people living downstream in their basins.