(19 Apr 2007) SHOTLIST
1. Appa, the nepalese sherpa guide attempting to climb everest for a record 17th time, and climbing partner Laka Gyelu taking photographs at Boudha, a Buddhist shrine in Katmandu
2. Appa walking outside airport in Katmandu
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Appa, Nepalese Sherpa Guide attempting to climb everest for 17th time:
"I am going to climb this spring 2007 with my good friend and fastest climber Lakpa Gyelu, we are both going to climb everest."
4. Appa receiving a sacred Tibetan scarf from friends and well wishers before departing on his journey
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Appa, Nepalese Sherpa Guide attempting to climb everest for 17th time:
"This time we would like to climb everest because we would like to make a documentary about sherpa Nepali story. Our main goal is, we would like to promote tourism in Nepal and also when we make this documentary, then the money goes back to Nepal for the Nepali sherpa children education and for the health education."
6. Appa getting ready to make his offerings and receive blessing from a Buddhist priest
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Appa, Nepalese Sherpa Guide attempting to climb everest for 17th time:
"I think the it is much easier this time compared to other time because other time we work with western people and all the time we have to worry
about your clients."
8. Various of Appa receiving blessing from the Buddhist priest
9. Appa at the Katmandu airport before departing for his journey
10. Appa and climbing partner at airport
STORYLINE:
A veteran sherpa guide set off on Thursday in an attempt to scale Mount Everest for a record 17th time, embarking with a team of fellow guides on a charity climb to raise funds for educating Nepalese sherpa children.
Appa, who goes one name only, will lead an eight member team of sherpas calling themselves the "Super Sherpas Expedition" as he attempts to break his own record for the number of climbs to the 8850 metre (29,035 feet) summit.
"I am going to climb this spring 2007 with my good friend and fastest climber Lakpa Gyelu, we are both going to climb everest," Appa told The Associated Press before leaving for Everest.
Appa - a modest, thinly built 46 year-old - is one of the most respected climbers in the mountaineering community.
His closest competitor, fellow sherpa guide Chewang Nima, 41, scaled the peak a 14th time last year.
Appa and his teammates will make a documentary about the climb and all money raised will go towards providing better education and health care for children in their community at the foothills of the mountain.
"Our main goal is, we would like to promote tourism in Nepal and also when we make this documentary, then the money goes back to Nepal for the Nepali sherpa children education and for the health education," he added.
Appa said he expects his 17th climb of Everest to be easier as he will not have to worry about helping foreign clients up the slopes.
"I think the it is much easier this time compared to other time because other time we work with western people and all the time we have to worry
about your clients."
But Appa is not taking any chances, before departing, he visited a famous Buddhist monastery in Katmandu where he offered scarfs and colourful flags and received a blessing from the high priest.
He said he also won approval to climb the peak from his concerned wife, who now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his three children.
Appa's wife normally discourages him from climbing Everest because of the enormous risks involved, having claimed the lives of nearly 200 people since the mountain was first conquered in 1953.
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