In commemoration of “Three Decades of Malaysia Everest Legacy” (1997-2027), Malaysian Everest summiteers, mountaineers and adventure sports enthusiasts will gather in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 23 for a special presentation by Bikram Pandey, chairman of Himalaya Expeditions.
Pandey will present the pioneering Sundare Sherpa-Marc Batard Route, a new alternative approach to Mount Everest from the Nepalese side designed to provide a safer and more sustainable way of reaching Camp 1 while bypassing the hazardous Khumbu Icefall.
The proposed route leads from the Everest Base Camp area toward the Nuptse Ridge, providing an alternative approach to Camp 1 without crossing the approximately 4km-long Khumbu Icefall.
The route has been explored, studied and progressively equipped since 2021 by French and Nepali mountaineers, including renowned French alpinist Marc Batard, Speed Kaji Sherpa and Passang Nuru Sherpa.
The Khumbu Icefall remains one of the most technically challenging and hazardous sections of the conventional Everest route, with crevasses, holes and constantly changing glacial terrain.
The project documentation records that 48 people have lost their lives in the Icefall, most of them Sherpas. The new Nuptse route seeks to reduce climbers’ exposure to this particularly dangerous section.
According to the project plan, the new itinerary is expected to incorporate approximately 200 permanent metallic steps and 300 metres of fixed ropes, subject to completion and the necessary authorisation for its use. The project team describes the route as technically comparable to the existing Icefall approach while offering a safer alternative.
The initiative represents the continuation of a long-term collaboration between French and Nepali mountaineers and reflects Marc Batard’s vision of creating an alternative way to reach Camp 1 while reducing the risks associated with the Khumbu Icefall.
The project has also involved engagement with the Government of Nepal, with the new route being viewed as having potential significance for safer climbing on Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.
Celebrating Malaysia’s Everest legacy
The KL event will also serve as a celebration of the achievements and enduring spirit of three decades of Malaysian involvement in Mount Everest and Himalayan mountaineering. It brings together members of the Malaysian Everest community and the wider adventure sports fraternity to reflect on the legacy created by Malaysian climbers and to look toward the future of Himalayan exploration.
Against this backdrop, Pandey will share perspectives on how Nepal and Malaysia can continue to strengthen their connections through mountaineering, adventure tourism, endurance sports and international sporting events.
Everest Marathon and future Malaysia-Nepal collaboration
Pandey, who is also the president and creator of the Everest Marathon, will additionally introduce the history and vision of the Everest Marathon and explore opportunities for future collaboration with Malaysian marathon organisers, runners and adventure-sports communities.
The proposed collaboration could create new opportunities for Malaysian runners and event organisers to engage with Nepal’s unique mountain-running environment, while further strengthening the sporting, tourism and people-to-people relationship between Malaysia and Nepal.
The KL presentation will therefore connect three important themes: the proud legacy of Malaysian Everest climbers, the development of a safer alternative route to Mount Everest, and the future of international mountain running through the Everest Marathon.
The new Everest route does not claim to eliminate the inherent risks of high-altitude mountaineering. Rather, its objective is to reduce exposure to the unstable Khumbu Icefall and establish a safer, more lasting alternative for reaching Camp 1. The route remains subject to completion of the necessary work and authorisation by the Nepalese authorities.
As Malaysia commemorates Three Decades of Malaysia Everest Legacy, this gathering looks not only to celebrate the achievements of those who have climbed the world’s highest mountain, but also to build new bridges between Malaysia and Nepal for the next generation of climbers, runners and adventure enthusiasts.
