INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MAY 19A team of black climbers that had scripted history by scaling the world's highest peak on May 12, has
returned with life changing memories."Yes, we have done it!" Philip Henderson, team leader of the Full Circle Expedition exclaimed, after
returning from the base camp.
Of the 11 members of the team that had attempted the climb, only seven made it to the top
while at least 13 Nepali guides accompanied them to the summit point
"This is the first ever all-black team to stand atop the roof of the world," Philip, who hadn't reached the summit point due to his hectic
managerial tasks at the Everest base camp, said."With the Full Circle team representing a zenith in generational perseverance, the
expedition has showcased the tenacity and strength of black climbers, and highlighted the barriers that continue to exist for Black
communities in accessing the outdoors," Philip, who worked tirelessly to make this dream happen since 2019, shared.One of the specific
objectives of the expedition was to inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, educators, leaders, and mountaineers of color to
continue chasing their personal summits
The team has, as such, achieved its goal by scaling Mt Everest, according to Philip."Our team has scaled Mt Everest, interacted with local
communities to know about society and culture as well as with other climbers," he said.Among the climbers comprising of sociologist,
psychologist, marine technician and the North Face athletes, 62-year-old James Kagambi, a retired teacher from Kenya, has also become the
first Kenyan to summit Mt Everest."We have had the life-changing experiences during the Everest expedition," Kagambi, also known as KG,
said, adding that he wanted to inspire younger generation to embrace on outdoor activities to achieve their personal summits.Much has
changed in Khumbu since Philip had first visited the region in 2012 as a leader of the North Face/National Geographic Everest Education
Expedition."We have seen more helicopters in the sky, less mules and porters on the trails but gadgets and smart phones in everybody's
hand," Philip, the only black instructor at Khumbu Climbing Centre, recounted."We have treasured the memory of climbing with friends on Mt
Everest," Rosemary Saal, one of female climbers who made it to the summit point, added.Rosemary has worked primarily as a backpacking field
instructor.North Face Athlete Manoah Ainuu (25) said that he would take these memories back to his country to inspire his community to
embrace wilderness adventures
"Our team is not just about all of us being black climbers, but also our entire support staff comprised of people from different Nepali
communities, including Sherpa, Rai, Tamang, Magar and all of those who supported us and our ides," he added.After arriving at the Everest
Base Camp on April 17, the team members mixed up with diverse climbing communities sharing their common goals, Fred Campbell, also a
Microsoft data scientist, shared
Fred, however, had not made it to the summit point this season.According to the Full Circle, the first American expedition reached the
summit of Everest in 1963
'That same year Martin Luther King delivered his historic 'I Have a Dream' speech.It took 40 more years for the first Black climber to
Still, there had never been an all-Black team to summit the tallest mountain on Earth."Our goal inspiring people from around the globe to be
adventurous resulted in history being made on May 12 by the strong team of climbers."This season, seven black climbers of Full Circle team -
James (KG) Kagambi, Manoah Ainuu, Rosemary Saal, Demond 'Dom' Mullins, Thomas Moore, Eddie Taylor and Evan Green had scaled Mt Everest
The Nepali Guides accompanying the team to the summit point include Fura Chheten Sherpa, Pasang Nima Sherpa, Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa, Phurtemba
Sherpa, Dawa Chhiri Sherpa, Sonam Gyalje Sherpa, Nima Nuru Sherpa, Chhopal Sherpa, Chhowang Lendup Sherpa, Tashi Gyalje Sherpa, Amrit Ale,
Pemba Sherpa, and Ngawang Tenjing Sherpa, according to Jiban Ghimire, Managing Director at Shangri-La Nepal Treks, said."Through teamwork,
team meetings, team trips, team gatherings and team support we have come away with a grand success," Ghimire, who organised this historic
expedition said.The Full Cirlcle team thanked title sponsors including The North Face, Vanity Fair and Microsoft as well as other sponsors
– Scarpa North America, Mountain Safety Research, Thermarest, Greening Youth Foundation, Osprey and Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation among
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com