Chinese Climber Becomes First Blind Asian to Reach the Summit of Everest

Katmandu:

A Chinese climber who became the first blind Asian to reach the summit of Mount Everest has stated that he intends to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents before exploring the North and South Poles. 

Zhang Hong, 44, is also the world's third blind climber to ascend the world's highest mountain. 

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On May 24, he reached the summit with the help of his guides and Sherpas and returned safely to Kathmandu.

On Monday, he said he was inspired by a blind American climber named Eric Weihenmayer, who climbed Everest in 2001. The second blind person to reach the summit was an Austrian climber.

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"Personally I plan to try the 'grand slam' in the next few years — the seven summits around the world on seven continents and the North and South Poles," said mountaineer Zhang. 

"Today I sit here and think about Eric (Weihenmayer), who inspired me to have such a dream and work all the way, and eventually I achieved it," he said.  

"So, I would think there are so many other visually impaired people around the world and also in Asia, and I hope what I did can be an inspiration for them," he added. 

Zhang became visually impaired at the age of 21 due to glaucoma. He works as a masseur in a hospital in Tibet, where he and his wife live. 

He prepared for five years before climbing Everest by lifting packages weighing 30 kilogrammes (66 pounds) up the hospital's stairwell. In addition, he climbed a number of smaller peaks in China. 

Because of the severe winds on the mountain, traversing the treacherous routes and getting past blocks of ice on the Everest ascent proved challenging. 

Hundreds of people attempted to climb Everest from the Nepal side in May after the government opened the peak to international climbers this year. The northern side of the mountain in China is closed because to COVID-19 concerns.

Zhang stated that his whole crew was vaccinated before to the trek and that they established a separate camp on the mountain to segregate themselves from other climbers. The Nepalese government has denied that there is a coronavirus outbreak on Everest, but a senior guide claims there are more than 100 cases on the mountain.

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