Giripremi has Everest-Lhotse in sight

After their successful 'Pune Everest 2012' expedition on May 20, Giripremi mountaineers are all set for their next adventure-a simultaneous dual expedition to Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse-to mark 60 years of the first successful Everest expedition.

Mount Lhotse at 8,516 meters is the fourth highest peak after Mount Everest, Godwin Austin (K2) and Kanchenjunga.

In April-May 2013, six mountaineers of Giripremi, Umesh Zirpe as team leader along with Anand Mali, Tekraj Adhikari, Bhushan Harshe, Ganesh More and Ashish Mane will undertake the expedition.

"We chose Mount Lhotse on Nepal and Tibet border for two reasons. It is near Mount Everest and the route for both peaks is same till camp III. Our experience of Pune Everest expedition will be of help this time," said Zirpe in a press meet on Thursday.

The expedition is expected to cost about Rs 90 lakh. According to Zirpe, the team would not need any new equipment as all of it was purchased during Pune Everest 2012. "We shall need funds for permit to Nepal, to pay porters, and for food and travel and to buy oxygen for the last step of the expedition," said Zirpe.

He added they decided to undertake the dual expedition to Mount Everest and Lhotse to celebrate Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's climb of the Everest in 1953. "We shall hoist the Indian tricolour and the Maharashtra state flag on both peaks, which would be the first Indian civil expedition to be undertaken simultaneously on these two peaks. Earlier, an Indian army group had successfully summitted these two peaks," said Zirpe.

As per the group's plan, two teams will be formed at Everest base camp. One will head towards Everest, and the other towards Lhotse. Both expeditions will be undertaken from South Col.

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