Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Celebration at Everest

Aired May 26, 2003 - 13:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The mountain climbers are spending some time on top of the world. They are scaling Mount Everest in honor of the summit's first conqueror. That was 50 years ago, and there have been many firsts on the summit since.
For more on the observances, CNN's Satinder Bindra live now by videophone from Katmandu, Nepal. Hi, Satinder.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. A lot of excitement here as these ceremonies get under way, and in the past several days some hundred people have climbed Everest, or as they say here in Nepal, they have summitted successfully.

Already today, we've seen two records smashed. One for the fastest climb to Everest, a climber from Nepal did the climb from base camp to Everest in 10 hours and 56 minutes, and another Nepalese climbed Everest for the 15th (ph) time in his career, establishing a new world record.

Joining us now is Alan Hinkes. He is a British climber, and you summitted successfully in 1996. What does this 50th anniversary mean to you?

ALAN HINKES, CLIMBER: It means a lot to me. It is celebrating Everest (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Nepal, and great to be here.

BINDRA: There have been a report of records in the past few days, the youngest to climb Everest, the oldest to climb Everest, the fastest to climb Everest, and some purists (ph), some adventurers as they call themselves say these records don't mean much because there are now tourists climbing Everest instead of real mountaineers anyway (ph).

HINKES: Well, to climb Everest is still a grave challenge, and to get to the top is a fantastic achievement, even today. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) but these records are here to be broken (UNINTELLIGIBLE) be broken, someone will do it in nine hours.

BINDRA: Thanks very much, and we all look forward now, Kyra, to celebrations here, the largest part of these celebrations which will, of course, take place in Katmandu on the 29th of May. Back to you now.

PHILLIPS: And I know you'll be there for the week. We'll continue to check in with you, Satinder.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 26, 2003 - 13:45   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The mountain climbers are spending some time on top of the world. They are scaling Mount Everest in honor of the summit's first conqueror. That was 50 years ago, and there have been many firsts on the summit since.
For more on the observances, CNN's Satinder Bindra live now by videophone from Katmandu, Nepal. Hi, Satinder.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. A lot of excitement here as these ceremonies get under way, and in the past several days some hundred people have climbed Everest, or as they say here in Nepal, they have summitted successfully.

Already today, we've seen two records smashed. One for the fastest climb to Everest, a climber from Nepal did the climb from base camp to Everest in 10 hours and 56 minutes, and another Nepalese climbed Everest for the 15th (ph) time in his career, establishing a new world record.

Joining us now is Alan Hinkes. He is a British climber, and you summitted successfully in 1996. What does this 50th anniversary mean to you?

ALAN HINKES, CLIMBER: It means a lot to me. It is celebrating Everest (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Nepal, and great to be here.

BINDRA: There have been a report of records in the past few days, the youngest to climb Everest, the oldest to climb Everest, the fastest to climb Everest, and some purists (ph), some adventurers as they call themselves say these records don't mean much because there are now tourists climbing Everest instead of real mountaineers anyway (ph).

HINKES: Well, to climb Everest is still a grave challenge, and to get to the top is a fantastic achievement, even today. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) but these records are here to be broken (UNINTELLIGIBLE) be broken, someone will do it in nine hours.

BINDRA: Thanks very much, and we all look forward now, Kyra, to celebrations here, the largest part of these celebrations which will, of course, take place in Katmandu on the 29th of May. Back to you now.

PHILLIPS: And I know you'll be there for the week. We'll continue to check in with you, Satinder.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com