Kathmandu, July 26: Appa Sherpa, a record 13-time everest climber, and US national Elizabeth Hawley were among those honoured by the Nepal government for their valuable contribution in the field of mountaineering. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sarvendranath Shukla yesterday honoured Hawley with the Sagarmatha National Award, which includes Rs 100,000, for her significant contribution to promoting mountaineering and developing mountain tourism in Nepal. Sherpa was conferred with the special mountaineering award and Rs 500,000. The Sagarmatha National Award was given away for the first time this year.
The minister also gave away Rs. 120,000 as a special annual allowance to Angfuri Sherpa, widow of ten time Everest summiteer Babuchhiri Sherpa. The previous youngest climber Temba Chhiri Sherpa, 18, was also honoured with Rs 60,000 study allowance on the occasion.

Temba was the youngest climber when he scaled the Everest in 2001 at the age of 16 and the award was announced by the government some time ago. Now the title of the youngest climber has gone to Minki Sherpa, who did the summit in may this year when she was 15 years and 9 months.

The minister said Nepal is also organising the golden jubilee celebrations of the successful conquest of Mt Chho Oyu, the sixth highest peak in the world, in October next year.

Bureau Report.