Two Countries Vie for Everest Records

THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2006

Two countries are vying for the chance to make history in their respective homelands by making firsts on Mount Everest.

The Philippines is aiming to make its first Everest climb since the team of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary first reached its summit in 1953. The Philippine contingent is divided into two contenders. One camp chose to go alone with a non-Filipino team and reach the summit this year. Meanwhile the other chose to make a reconnaissance expedition first before finally attempting to reach the summit next year.

Romeo Garduce, an information technology expert, left the Philippines last March 3 to pursue his Everest dream. He is reported to have joined a three- to five-member team composed by veteran climbers and escorted by sherpas. He is expected to reach the summit by spring.

On the other side of the camp is the 1st Philippine Mount Everest Expedition team. It is composed of 14 climbers including expert climber and former transportation undersecretary Art Valdez, who is leading the expedition. However, they will only be having a reconnaissance expedition this year and prepare for the summit climb next year.

Meanwhile, Brazilians are aiming to set their own milestone on Everest. Paulo and Helena Coelho are going to attempt to be the first Brazilians to reach the summit without the help of sherpas and without oxygen. They believe that it is the only way that the climb to Everest will pay off. If they succeed, Helena Coelho will also set another record by being the first female Brazilian climber to reach the summit of the highest mountain in the world.

However, another Brazilian woman, Ana Elisa, has the chance to do just that. Either way, it will be a win-win situation for Brazilians if any of those women succeed.