The participating climbers are Usha Bist, Ang Shering Lama, Nima Lhaten Lama, Dolma Sherpa, Tasi Sherpa, Nawang Nima Sherpa, Jangbu Sherpa, Shera Jangbu Sherpa, Lakpa Sherpa, Pem Chhotar Sherpa and Ram Krishna Shrestha.

Lakpa Sherpa, vice president of the Nepal Mountaineering Instructors Association, said in a statement, “Nepal has suffered a major tragedy due to the earthquakes. The entire mountaineering fraternity has been badly hit by the disaster, just as much as the rest of the people in the affected regions.

The main objective of our trip is to raise funds.” He has also stated that a chunk of the funds raised by the ascent will go to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. “A part of the proceeds will be used for rebuilding activities in the Solukhumbu, Langtang and Manaslu regions, which are some of the major trekking and mountaineering destinations in the country,” he added.

Mt Denali, also refered to as Mt McKinley, is the highest peak in North America, and has a summit elevation of 20,237 feet above sea level. It was first ascended by Harry Karstens, Robert Tatum, Walter Harper and Hudson Stuck on June 7, 1913.

According to Lakpa Sherpa, the mountain has an “exemplary climbing culture, waste-management and rescue system”. He hopes that the trip will also be an educational project for the participating climbers, who will be able to use the experience in Nepal in the future.

“We would also like to use the trip to promote Nepal among foreign climbers, especially in the face of the great damage the mountaineering fraternity has suffered in Nepal because of the recent natural disasters,” he said.