num_pages: 180
description: The dramatic often amusing story of Sir Edmund Hillary's return to the Himalayas in March 1963 to fulfill a promise - to repay the Sherpas a rugged Himalayan people with schools water systems and medical aid for the loyal and courageous service they have rendered to many mountaineering expeditions over the years - and to do a bit of climbing.At the close of the 1960 scientific mountaineering expedition which he described in 'High in the Thin Cold Air' Sire Edmund Hillary asked his native helpers what one thing they most desired. The answer was schools and an old Sherpa remarked: our children have eyes but they are still blind.In 1961 the first school was built in Khumjung 13000 feet up the flanks of sacred Mount Khumbila in Nepal. When Hillary returned with a nine man task force to continue the job two years later he discovered a widespread improvement int he village; many has learned to write fluently in Nepali; several particularly children spoke English with astonishing facility; and everywhere there was a passion for learning.Before the nine man team was through they had given schools to neighbouring Pangboche and Thami revolutionized Khumjung with a crude but efficient mile long water pipeline and with the help of airdrops and fights against time and prejudice saved thousands of natives from the ravages of smallpox.Sire Ed's picture of Sherpa life is full colorful and compassionate. Through Lady Hillary's own diary we see the charm of these children the business of everyday the ceremonies acted out against the blue sky sparkling river and a world of laughter. But no less exciting are the accounts by two other members of the expedition - of assaults on two great unclimbed peaks: Taweche and Kangtega.
language: English
title: Schoolhouse in the Clouds
publisher: Doubleday & Company