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A Nepalese couple have exchanged wedding vows on top of Mount Everest, the first people ever to marry there.

They briefly took off their oxygen masks and put on plastic garlands, while the groom symbolically applied red powder on the bride's forehead.

Moni Mulepati and Pem Dorjee Sherpa were part of the Rotary Centennial Everest Expedition earlier this week.

They had kept the plan secret as there was no guarantee they would reach the top of the world's highest peak.

Arriving back in Kathmandu, the bride said it would not have been possible to meet all the religious requirements, so they did what they could with what was available.

The couple stayed on the peak for a mere 10 minutes which gave enough time for the ceremony and for friends to take photos.

Other climbers were "very surprised, they are really shocked" Ms Mulepati told the BBC's News hour programme.

They plan to hold a more formal ceremony soon. 
click here for detail :  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4605711.stm


 

Long Distance Hiker Sets Out to Help Complete National Treasure

As part of the Rotary CDT Challenge, the Conifer, Colorado resident, who will turn 70 later this year, sets off April 26 to hike the entire 735 mile-long section of the CDT in New Mexico. In 2008, he and his team will hike through Colorado, in 2009 through Wyoming, and in 2010 he will complete the 3,100 mile-long trail, hiking through Idaho and Montana.

As he travels through New Mexico, Matson will participate in numerous community celebrations to encourage local involvement in building, maintaining and protecting this national treasure. The Rotary Club of Conifer, of which Matson is member, has taken a special interest in the CDT, with Conifer Rotarians volunteering their time, making donations, and even adopting a section of the Trail. Matson hopes to encourage other civic organizations along the Trail to become similarly involved. Matson and his fellow hiker Pem Sherpa are seeking volunteers to assist with resupply and shuttles in New Mexico. Anyone wishing to help is encouraged to contact Suzanne Barkley.

Matson’s Rotary CDT Challenge is more than just about one trail, he says. “We are losing our connection to the land – a connection that has been a major part of who we are as a country for the last two centuries,” Matson believes. A large part of his outreach efforts includes getting young people interested in the outdoors. He will make presentations to Boy and Girl Scouting organizations, schools, and youth groups, as well as Rotary Clubs and other service organizations. Matson has already made a big difference in the life of his four-year-old grandson who now wants to go hiking all the time.
click for detail:  http://www.rockymountainsports.com/article/?Guid=e1080e06-0930-45db-9275-77edb91220e7

 

SIR Edmund Hillary's family are drawing comfort from tributes worldwide after the Everest conquerer's death from a heart attack today aged 88.

A state funeral will be held in New Zealand for the inspirational adventurer who was the first to set foot atop the world's highest peak.

He died peacefully this morning in an Auckland hospital, aged 88.

Sir Edmund's widow, Lady June Hillary, said her husband's heart gave out and he "remained in good spirits until the end".

In a statement she said she was buoyed by supportive messages from around the globe, the New Zealand Herald reports.

Sir Edmund's son, Peter, is expected to return home from Portugal as soon as he is able.

It was still night in Portugal, but Peter's wife Yvonne said her husband was aware of the news.

"We're all very upset as you can expect when a family member dies, but we're all reflecting on a wonderful life well-lived and treasuring the good moments, and grateful that he went without any suffering."

The giant of mountain climbing - the first to stand on "'top of the world' on May 29, 1953 -has been remembered as a down to earth man with a massive heart and a small ego.

As he and triumphant Sherpa Tenzing Norgay descended, Hillary announced to fellow climbers: "We knocked the bastard off".

Sir Edmund died in hospital at 7am Melbourne time. A friend said he had been unwell with liver problems for some time.

Fellow adventurers today mourned the pioneer and humanitarian who first conquered the imposing 8848m Mt Everest, and then dedicated his life to building schools, medical clinics, hospitals and bridges in Nepal's Himalayan region.
Click for detail:  http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23036842-661,00.html


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