For the first time in two years, foreigners have reached the top of the world's tallest mountain, Everest, following disaster and tragedy that kept climbers from attempting the feat. Britons Kenton Cool and Robert Richard Lucas reached the 29,035-foot summit on Thursday along with Mexican David Liano and three Nepalese guides. On Wednesday, nine Sherpa guides also summitted Mount Everest.
The mountain has been plagued in recent years by tragedy; in 2014, 16 sherpas were killed by an avalanche and last year, the earthquake in Nepal killed at least 18 climbers and guides. While one Chinese woman did technically make an ascent in May 2014, she did so with the aid of a helicopter and thereby disqualified herself in the eyes of many climbers, who saw her actions as a violation of their code. Nearly 700 people summitted Everest in 2013.
For Cool, it was his 12th time reaching the top of Everest and he told his wife "the summit has never looked more beautiful."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 ballsy cartoons about the new White House ballroomCartoons Artists take on the White House Disneyland, a menu for the elites, and more
-
‘Congratulations on your house, but maybe try a greyhound instead’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How climate change poses a national security threatThe explainer A global problem causing more global problems
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
