KATHMANDU: A team of American and Nepali mountaineers are set to climb Denali in Alaska, USA, on June 2 this year to mark the remarkable milestone of diamond jubilee of diplomatic relationship between Nepal and the United States of America.

Denali, which is the highest mountain in North America, is considered one of the most extreme and challenging mountains to climb due to its terrain and proximity to the Arctic Circle.

As the two great nations are celebrating 75 years of official diplomatic relationship, the Denali expedition team has been named “USA-Nepal Friendship Team”.

Public Affairs Chief at US Embassy in Kathmandu Garrett E. Wilkerson handed over diamond jubilee expedition flag to the USA-Nepal Friendship Team amidst a program in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The flag will be hoisted atop Mount Everest by Pasang Phurba Sherpa from Seven Summit Treks this spring season and later will be carried by the USA-Nepal Friendship Team to Denali, Alaska.

Besides, honoring and fostering enduring ties between Nepal and the US, the expedition also carries an important message — “Climb Against Cancer” — that hits equally hard across the world.

The expedition to begin on June 2 later this year would be led by Karma Tenzing of Nepal and Mark Parella of the USA, according to the organizer. The team consists of World Record Holders, National Record Holders, and other acclaimed mountaineers.

Expedition leaders Parella and Tenzing are both Everest summiteers. Parella is a US Navy veteran and climber of numerous mountains in the US and around the world. Tenzing currently holds two Nepal national records and is a polar explorer who is on track to complete his Explorer’s Grand Slam by 2023.

Others in the team are Mingma Sherpa, Chhang Dawa Sherpa, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, Karma Gyalje Sherpa, Jangbu Sherpa and Pasang Dawa Sherpa.

Mingma Sherpa is the first South Asia to summit all 14 highest peaks in the world. In the process, he set a world record by becoming the first mountaineer to climb all 14 peaks on the first attempt.

Mingma and his brother, Chhang Dawa Sherpa, hold the world record of the world’s first two brothers to successfully summit 14 of the world’s highest mountains. Dawa Sherpa is also the youngest person to summit all 14 highest mountains in the world until 2019.

Similarly, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa currently is the youngest person to summit all 14 highest peaks in the world. He also holds a record for the fastest time to climb Mt. Everest and Mt. K2 which he did in just 61days.

Karma Gyalje Sherpa is a professional mountain guide and a four-time Everest summiteer. Karma has also climbed Mt. K2 in 2012, seven-times Manaslu, two-times Cho-Oyu, G-I in 2013 and two-times G-II.

Jangbu Sherpa is another world record holder and also a Nepal national record holder. He is a 17-time Everest summiteer and has scaled more than 25 8,000-meter mountains.

Pasang Dawa Sherpa is a professional mountain guide and a nine-time Everest summiteer. He has completed many other 8,000-meter mountains in the Himalayas.

The United States recognized Nepal as a sovereign country in 1947 and established diplomatic relations in 1948. Since then till now, both countries endure and honor the relationship at various levels. This outstanding expedition to mark 75 years of Nepal-US ties reflects greater cooperation and strong people-to people contacts of the two nations.