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Lars Hamer

Raj Gurung joined an elite group of Hong Kong residents this month, after successfully reaching the top of Mount Everest.
Despite only taking up climbing three years ago, the 53-year-old bar owner summited the world’s highest mountain on May 18.
Gurung’s journey took two attempts spanning nine days, and forced him to pass six dead climbers, sometimes having to stand on their hair, during a “traffic jam” near the summit.
“I’ve been preparing for the last three years,” Gurung said. “During that time, before doing Everest, I did Europe’s highest peak [Mount Elbrus in Russia] and two mountains in Nepal, Yalung Ri and Lobuche.”
Gurung, who was born in India to Nepalese parents, returned to Nepal in the early 90s and opened his first restaurant in Kathmandu. He then moved to Hong Kong in 1996, becoming a permanent resident seven years later.

He returned to Nepal for the first time in almost 30 years during the pandemic, a visit which Gurung said changed his perspective.
“It fascinated me, the mountains and all the nature in Nepal,” Gurung said. “When I saw the mountains surrounding me, I felt like I should do something, even just a trek.
“So I started hiking, and Everest Basecamp was my first-ever trek in the mountains. During that time, I made up my mind that I must climb the mountain as well. So I did Yalung Peak and Lobuche, which is over 6,000 metres.”
While climbing in Nepal, Gurung met Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, one of two Sherpas who helped him on his ascent.
“Sherpas are the real heroes,” Gurung said. “Without them, nobody can climb mountains. We only carry 10kg on our backs, but they carry everything: food, oxygen, everything.”
Gurung, Phurba Tenjing Sherpa and Nima Gyalzen Sherpa, who have now climbed Everest 17 and 12 times, respectively, started from Basecamp on May 9 and reached Camp Four, which has an elevation of 7,925 metres, two days later.

However, they were then hit by 80mph (128km/h) winds and were forced to turn back.
The trio restarted from Camp Two again on May 15 and two days later were back at Camp Four. On May 17 at 10pm, they began their ascent and reached the highest point in the world 12 hours later.
“More than 100 people attempted to summit that day, some succeeded and some died,” Gurung said. “The traffic was bad and very hard for us, it starts freezing your legs, your hands.
“There’s only one path up, and one rope to ascend and descend. You see the bodies lying on the ground, hanging on the ropes and there’s like 20 years of bodies lying on the Hillary Step.”
The Hillary Step is a 40ft (12 metres) vertical rock just before the summit at an elevation of 8,790m and is considered Everest’s most difficult section.
“We pray for them, but because we have our own mission to go up, we have to go past them,” he said. “Sometimes we step on their hair or something, because they’re fixed into the path.”
Gurung has now set his sights on conquering more of the world’s peaks, and hopes to take on the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent.
“Next will be Mount Denali, in Alaska, North America,” he said.


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The Hong Kong bar owner who climbed over 6 dead to reach top of Mount Everest

Raj Gurung poses at the summit of Mount Everest with a Hong Kong flag. Photo: Dreamers Destination Treks & Expedition

Raj Gurung (centre) with his two Sherpa guides during his trek to the summit of Mount Everest. Photo: Dreamers Destination Treks & Expedition

Raj Gurung (right) holds a Manchester United flag at the top of Mount Everest. Photo: Dreamers Destination Treks & Expedition

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Raj Gurung joins just handful of Hongkongers to successfully reach summit of Mount Everest


Raj Gurung joins just handful of Hongkongers to successfully reach summit of Mount Everest.


Climbing and mountaineering

The Hong Kong bar owner who climbed over 6 dead to reach top of Mount Everest

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Raj Gurung joins just handful of Hongkongers to successfully reach summit of Mount Everest

Raj Gurung joins just handful of Hongkongers to successfully reach summit of Mount Everest