“IF THERE IS NO SHERPA –THERE IS NO EXPEDITION/EVEREST”
Sherpa are one of the Tibetan ethnic groups from mountainous region of Nepal. The term ‘Sherpa’ is derives from a Tibetan word sher (east) and pa (people), which refers to their geographical origin of eastern Tibet. Sherpa peoples are mostly settled in the eastern part of Nepal Solukhumbu district- known as the gateway to Mount Everest to the south.
They follow Tibetan tradition, language, religion, and even trade. Their main occupation includes animal husbandry, trade, agriculture, and high-altitude endeavors. Majority of them follow Buddhism. For centuries, the Sherpa carefully went around the mountains rather than traverse them, as they felt mountain was the residence of the gods and goddesses. Mount Everest in Tibetan is Chomolangma, both meaning “goddess mother.” Sherpa are highly regarded as experts in mountaineering and their local territory, as well as having good physical endurance and flexibility to high altitude situations.
Sherpas were of immeasurable value to early explorers of the Himalayan region, serving as guides and porters at the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region. Today, the term is used casually to refer to almost any guide or porter hired for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. However, in Nepal Sherpas insist on making the distinction between themselves and general porters, as they often serve in a more guide-like role and command higher pay and respect from the community.
Sherpas are renowned in the international climbing and mountaineering community for their honesty, hardiness, expertise, dedication and experience at high altitudes. Many have speculated that a portion of Sherpas’ climbing ability may be due to a genetically greater lung capacity, allowing much better performance at high altitudes. It has also been suggested that one reason why they were widely used as porters is that they had fewer dietary prohibitions than most people of the region and were prepared to eat whatever was given to them on expeditions.
They are renowned for their hospitality. With the first Mount Everest expedition in 1921, foreign mountain climbers were highly impressed with the skill and endurance of the local Sherpa people and the affinity between the westerners and the Sherpa civilization grew amicably into a close sharing and understanding between vastly different cultures.
Sherpa is the legends of mountain climber, they are main the backbone of mountain expeditions in Nepal, due to the high mountainous terrain they live in, and guiding and providing logistical services to climbing teams from all over the world has become one of the main sources of income for the Sherpa’s. They are the guides, mentors, and lifelines high in the Himalayas.
The Sherpa peoples are the most hard working and loyal person that many people refer to have good mountain guides as Sherpa. Today 90% guides and climbers all are Sherpa from the Sherpa community only 10 % are mix. Mostly young men, Sherpa guides are not just the muscle behind any expedition – carrying extra gear such as oxygen bottles, water, and food – they are also expert navigators. Enduring freezing temperatures of -30C down to -50C, they help climbers to negotiate icefalls, avalanches, and extreme altitudes.
Sherpa has made history in Mountaineering
- Tenzing Norgay Sherpa- He along with Edmund Hillary was a great and brave human who conquered Mount Everest for the first time on May 29, 1953
- Pasang Lhamu Sherpa- The first female Nepali climber who climbed Mt.Everest on April 22, 1993
- Babu Chiri sherpa- He broke world records relating to Mount Everest to stay on the summit for 21 hours without auxiliary oxygen in May 1999.
- Temba Tsheri- was the youngest person to successfully climb Everest at 16 years of age on May 23, 2001, until Jordan Romero, then aged 13 successfully climbed Everest In 2010, May 22.
- Mingma Sherpa- the first South Asian the world’s highest mountains on May 20, 2011.
- Lakpa Tshering Sherpa and Sano Babu Sunuwar – were voted “People’s Choice Adventurers of the year 2012” because of their “Ultimate descent”: a three-month.
- Nima Chhamzi Sherpa – A 16-year-old became the youngest woman to climb Everest on 19 May 2012.
- Chhurim Sherpa- Guinness World Record holder for being the first Female Sherpa to summit Everest twice in one climbing season. She summitted Everest twice in May 2012: 12 May and 19 May.
- Kami Rita Sherpa- Summitted Everest for the 26times on May 16, 2022
- Sanu Sherpa-Sets record by scaling world’s 14 highest Peaks ‘twice’.
Ultimately, Sherpa is not only caste- they are BRAND. on every expedition, Sherpa is the real hero, who are behind the stage doing the hard work (fixing ropes, carrying gear, guiding, preparing meals, etc.). Sherpa are the real mountaineers, without them support there is not words to success. In most cases, they don’t get the credit they deserve nor the fair pay for their risky job. Is important to know that climbing is about style, Alpine style is mostly autonomous, Tourist style which is what most people do in the Himalayas means depending on the Sherpa, and for that climber just needs to have a good condition and money to pay for the Sherpa’s to do the mountain work.
