December 16, 2001

KATHMANDU: All three members of a French expedition scaled the 6779 meters high Kantega on December 5 through the north face during the on-going winter climbing season, the Ministry of Tourism said quoting a delayed report from base camp.

Team leader Christophe Profit, 40, Oliver Besson, 39, and Andre Pierre Rhem, 31, stepped on the summit at 2 PM, and spent an hour on the top following a six-hour summit bid from the last camp at 6000 meters.

A Briton and a Dane of the seven-member “Jagged Globe Ama Dablam Expedition” climbed the 6812 meters high Ama Dablam two days later through the south west ridge, the Ministry said. Reger Alan Gott, 53, and Hans Hurvis, a Dane, climbed the peak at 2 PM after an eight-hour summit push from the third camp at 6300 meters, the Ministry said.

Seven expeditions are climbing in the Nepal Himalaya this winter climbing season that began December 1 and concludes mid-February.