Kathmandu, Nepal, May 22 (Bloomberg) -- Wind storms on Mount Everest forced more than 100 climbers to halt attempts to reach the summit to mark the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of the world's tallest mountain, the Associated Press said.

The climbers, on the southern face of the mountain, had to retreat to their highest camps after failing to reach the 8,850- meter (29,035 foot) peak, AP said. They are part of a record number of people trying to scale Everest this month before the May 29 anniversary of the first climb by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese guide, Tenzing Norgay.

A joint South Korean-Chinese team of 11 climbers and two U.S. mountaineers reached the summit by the north face route in the past 24 hours, AP said.

The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal has Everest and eight of the world's 14 other peaks higher than 8,000 meters on its territory. Everest has been climbed by more than 1,200 mountaineers since 1953, AP said. At least 175 climbers have died trying. The Nepalese government allowed 22 teams, each with 12 climbers plus their Sherpa guides, to attempt the climb during this year's season from March to May, AP said.

(AP 5-22)

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Last Updated: May 22, 2003 00:10 EDT