On 5 May, the television watchers around the world were served with live coverage of the China-Japan-Nepal Friendship Expedition to Everest 1988 conquering the highest real estate in the world. A dozen mountaineers climbed up from one country, traversed the summit and descended down into the other country. The sponsors in Beijing, Kathmandu and Tokyo expressed themselves satisfied, but the story does not end there.
In terms of mountaineering achievement, the exercise was hardly noteworthy. The northern and southern routes chosen had little challenge left in them. The Nepal route, in particular, leading up the Western Cwm and the South Col, has become a tourist passage that can be climbed by any expedition with time on its hands, adequate logistical support, and moderate weather.
Even the live broadcast from the summit was not really pioneering, for American climber David Breshears already did that on 7 May 1983 without hype and hoopla. What the Japanese did was to relay the microwave transmission via satellite to TV stations, which is hardly a technological marvel in this day and age.
The trination bonanza was a massive 252 member affair. Never before had Everest been subjected to an assault of this magnitude. The siege style climbing strategy harked back to the expeditions of 1950s. Veteran mountain watchers were aghast, as were some environmentalist. Everyone else was awash in talk of friendship and more friendship.