83-year-old attempts Mt. Dhaulagiri for 13th time

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Beni, Apr. 24: Carlos Soria, an 83-year-old Spanish national, believes he will ascend Mount Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest peak in the world, in his 13th attempt this time. Soria had reached Camp 1, situated at an altitude of 7,000 metres of the 8,167-metre tall peak, in his 12th attempt last year.

Soria had made his first attempt on Mt. Dhaulagiri in 1998. Since then, he has tried a dozen times to climb the mountain.To realise his long-cherished dream of seeing the world from the peak of Dhaulagiri, Soria has already reached Dhaulagiri Base Camp for his 13th attempt. 

He is facilitated by Seven Summit Treks, the team which has conquered all 14 peaks measuring over 8,000 metres around the world Soria’s team is led by Ming Temba Sherpa. “A team of 25 foreign mountaineers reached the base camp with our team 12 days ago,” said Thaneshwor Guragain, manager of the Seven Summit Treks.

Informing that the team was stranded at the base camp due to unfavourable weather conditions, such as heavy snowfall, Guragain said that the climbers would ascend the peak within the next 20-25 days if the weather favoured.  Guragain also believes that Soria will fulfil his dream by reaching atop Mount Dhaulagiri this time.

Meanwhile, locals informed that the weather was challenging for the climbers.

“There are many climbers waiting for the weather to clear and move forward. Climbing the mountain in present weather conditions is next to impossible,” said Indra Singh Serchan, a tourism businessman from Dana in Ward No. 3 of Annapurna Rural Municipality. 

Serchan, who had recently returned by visiting the base camp, informed that many trekkers along the Dhaulagiri Circuit were returning from the base camp because of heavy snowfall.

Other climbers from other trekking companies are also said to be at the base camp waiting for favourable weather.

“The number of trekkers and climbers to Dhaulagiri has increased after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism industry has started reviving,” said Hari Tilija, proprietor of Tilija Hotel situated at the Italy Base Camp of Mt. Dhaulagiri.