KATHMANDU: A trio of European climbers have made peace with a group of Nepalese guides working on Mount Everest after a “terrifying” high-altitude brawl that sparked a police investigation, officials said yesterday.
Ueli Steck, a Swiss national, and Simone Moro of Italy, who has climbed the world’s highest peak four times, had a bust-up with the guides near the summit on Saturday.
An American eyewitness, speaking by telephone on condition of anonymity, said Steck, Moro and British photographer Jonathan Griffith were asked to wait on the mountain while the Nepalese rigged up some ropes.
The Europeans, who were trying to climb the 8,848-metre mountain by a new route without supplementary oxygen, ignored the request and carried on.
“Then some ice fell and hit the Sherpas, which made them angry,” said the eyewitness.
Later in the day, a furious group of Nepalese stormed up towards the climbers’ tents and pelted them with stones until the men came outside, after which a loud argument ensued and punches were allegedly thrown.
Mediation meetings between the climbers and the local Sherpas took place yesterday.
AFP
