Oldest Malaysian Climber To Arrive At Everest Base Camp Monday Noon

From Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri GORAKSHEP (Nepal), April 11 (Bernama) -- The oldest Malaysian climber, James Lee Chong Meng who is part of the Lions Mount Everest Expedition (MEE) 2016 mission is expected to arrive at Everest Base Camp (EBC) located at a height of 5,365 metres above sea level on Monday at noon. Lee, 68, arrived at Gorakshep, the last stop before the base camp at 1.30 pm (local time) Sunday after departing from Lobuche at 10am. From Gorakshep, located at a height of 5,140 metres above sea level, to the EBC is another three-hour journey. "I will spend a night at Gorakshep before continuing the journey to EBC tomorrow (Monday) morning. The route to EBC is challenging as the track is along steep mountain side," he told Bernama, which was part of the expedition. Asked on the condition of his sprained right leg, Lee said he was recovering from the injury and the swell had subsided. "My right foot is getting better but I am walking slowly and did not want to aggravate it," he said. Lee who has more than 20 years of mountain climbing experience, has conquered Mount Kinabalu in east Malaysian state Sabah, Mount Rinjani in Indonesia, Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Ama Dablam in Nepal. He began his dream journey to conquer Mount Everest at a height of 8,848 metres since March 31 and is expected to complete his mission in 70 days. Also joining the climbing team were are two professional sherpas, Ngaa Tenji, 33, and Ang Temba, 44. Two climbers, Sherine Leong, 40, and Desmond Tee, 56, also joined Lee at a lower camp. Bernama as the expedition's official media sent three representatives namely journalist Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri, 25, Bernama TV cameraman, Fazril Amirul, 23 and photographer Zulfadhli Zulkarnain, 23. --BERNAMA (photoBERNAMA)