Lee begins ascent to Everest Camp One

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Malaysia’s oldest mountain climber James Lee Chong Meng poses with the Jalur Gemilang at the Everest Base Camp in Solukhumbu, Nepal. Picture released April 13, 2016. Photo credit: Bernama

Malaysia’s oldest mountain climber James Lee Chong Meng poses with the Jalur Gemilang at the Everest Base Camp in Solukhumbu, Nepal. Picture released April 13, 2016. Photo credit: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: James Lee Chong Meng, Malaysia’s oldest male mountaineer who has embarked on the Lions Mount Everest Expedition 2016, today begins his ascent to Camp One.

Lee, 68, said the 6,000-metre-high climb would take five hours through difficult paths.

“The route to the camp is filled with glacier ice and is rocky and steep. I have to be extra cautious as the trail can be slippery.

“After I reach there (Camp One), I will return to the EBC (Everest Base Camp) on the same day, before climbing to Camp Two and returning to the EBC again,” said Lee who was at the EBC when contacted by Bernama.

The same process would be carried out for Everest Camp Three and Everest Camp Four to get himself acclimatised to the higher altitude, he said.

The expedition, organised by Lions Club International District 308 B1, is aimed at raising people’s awareness of the environment and to demonstrate the spirit of ‘Malaysia Boleh’.

Lee said training for the climb would be conducted several times to get himself acclimatised before launching the final assault to conquer the peak next month.

The retired engineer said he was in good health and felt confident, and the weather was reported to be fair.

Lee, who has over 20 years of experience climbing mountains, has conquered several peaks including Mount Kinabalu, Mount Rinjani in Indonesia, Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Ama Dablam in Nepal.

He began his climb of the 8,848-metre-high Mount Everest on March 31, and is expected to complete the mission in 70 days.

In the team of climbers are two professional Sherpas, Ngaa Tenji, 33, and Ang Temba, 44. – Bernama