Mountaineer Gabriel Baicus: I place my health and that of my clients in Nepalese Sherpas' hands

Mountaineer Gabriel Baicus, the first Romanian to successfully climb two of the highest peaks on the planet, Everest (8,848 m) and Lhotse (8,516 m), in just over 24 hours, says that every time he organises expeditions in the Himalayas under extreme conditions, the health and safety of both himself and his clients is entrusted to Nepalese Sherpas.

Gabriel Baicus was born in Buzau County and grew up in the Nehoiu area, where he became captivated by the landscapes of the Curvature Carpathians. After managing to reach the Roof of the World, he began sharing his passion with other mountain enthusiasts by organising expeditions to some of the world's highest mountains.

Every climb can involve life-threatening situations, which is why he has brought Nepalese Sherpas onto his team, and he says that he places his and his clients' wellbeing in their hands. At altitudes above 5,000 metres, avalanches, oxygen deprivation, sub-zero temperatures that can cause frostbite, fatigue and even death may occur.

'They are people who don't seek conflict, they are peaceful. They will share with you from the little they have, they are very welcoming. I have hired them for several expeditions, as I organise expeditions in Nepal and they are my trusted partners. I have expeditions on Manaslu, on Everest, and I work with them, we rely on them. I literally place my health and that of my clients in their hands, because they take responsibility. Otherwise, I wouldn't send them with clients. We have been working together since 2017. They are extremely helpful, there have been situations where clients didn't have proper gloves or lost them, and the Sherpas gave them their own, just to make sure they were safe. Often, they carry part of the equipment too. That's what Sherpas do, they guide you and help carry the load. There were many cases where clients couldn't carry their rucksacks anymore, and the Sherpas took over. For example, mountain guides in Europe are less likely to help with carrying weight, whereas in Nepal it is quite common,' Gabriel Baicus told AGERPRES.

The Romanian mountaineer says that his ties with his Nepalese colleagues have grown beyond mere professional collaboration, they have become close friends. 'They are laid back and don't know how to say no,' he points out.

'I work with them and regularly send clients to Nepal. This autumn I have got many groups going. I can't go myself this year, but they will stand in for me. Beyond our professional collaboration, we have also become friends. They have been to Romania, they have visited me. When I lived in Spain, they came there too. They are not violent people, they are very calm and accommodating. We have built a solid team, we share tents, we eat together, we do everything together,' added the mountaineer from Buzau.

In addition to Everest and Lhotse, Gabriel Baicus's climbing portfolio includes other peaks in Nepal such as Manaslu (8,163 m), Ama Dablam (6,814 m), Mera Peak (6,476 m), Island Peak (6,160 m) and Lobuche East (6,119 m).