Min Bahadur Sherchan, Nepalese Climber, 76, Oldest Man To Conquer Everest

Min Bahadur Sherchan, Nepalese Climber, 76, Oldest Man To Conquer Everest

(AP) KATMANDU, Nepal - A Nepalese man who climbed Mt. Everest at age 76 and became the oldest person to conquer the world's highest peak celebrated Monday official recognition of his achievement by Guinness World Records.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was among several dignitaries at a function in Katmandu to congratulate Min Bahadur Sherchan, now 78, after he received an official certificate from Guinness.

Sherchan scaled the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) peak in May 2008 at the age of 76 years and 340 days, but the Guinness Book of World Records continued to list Japanese climber Katsusuke Yanagisawa _ who scaled the peak at age 71 _ as the oldest person until he made an official appeal earlier this year.

"My main objective for climbing Everest was for world peace. I was determined to either climb the peak or die trying," Sherchan said at the function.

A former soldier, Sherchan was little known in the climbing community and it was his first attempt at conquering the mountain.

Nepalese nationals hold most world records related to Everest, including the fastest climb, most time spent on the summit, and the youngest person to scale it.

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