Sherpa people, Mt. Everest guide Sherpa people, Mt. Everest guide August,23 2016 BY Chloe Xin 0 COMMENTS Sherpa people, meaning “eastern people” in Nepali, are an ethnic group at Tibet-Nepal Border. The word Sherpa often conjures up images of assistants helping western climbers reach the top of Mount Everes t. Though the word has developed into a position title for anyone hired to help with a mountaineering expedition, it comes from the name of the Sherpa people. If you want a guide or porter to climb Mount Everest, do hire a Sherpa. Sherpa people are professional Mt. Everest Guide. Most Sherpa people live in the south side of Himalayas, mainly in the eastern regions of Nepal. But some of them also live in Zhangmu, Dinggye and Tingri of Tibet. In Fact, the Sherpa migrated from eastern Tibet to Nepal hundreds of years ago. Prior to Western intrusion in the twentieth century, the Sherpa didn't climb mountains; they reverently passed by the high peaks of the Himalaya, believing them to be the homes of the gods.

The Sherpa eked their livelihood from high-altitude farming, cattle raising, and wool spinning and weaving. The Sherpa were nomadic people and then primarily settled in the Solukhumbu District (khumbu) district and then gradually moved further westward. Salt trade occurred along these routes. In oral history, four groups migrated at different times giving rise to four main Sherpa clans, Minyagpa, Thimmi, Sertawa and Chawa. There are over 20 clans today which are sub-groups of the four. About 1840 Sherpa ancestors migrated from Kham. Mahayana Buddhism religious conflict may have contributed to the migration in the 15th and 16th centuries. Sherpa migrants traveled through Ü and Tsang, before crossing the Himalaya. Sherpas are highly regarded as elite mountaineers and experts in their local terrain. They were immeasurably valuable to early explorers of the Himalayan region, serving as guides at the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region, particularly for expeditions to climb Mt. Everest.

Today, the term is often used casually—and incorrectly—by foreigners to refer to almost any guide or porter hired for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. Sherpas are renowned in the international climbing and mountaineering community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience at high altitudes. It has been speculated that a portion of the Sherpas' climbing ability is the result of a genetic adaptation to living in high altitudes. Some of these adaptations include unique hemoglobin-binding enzymes, doubled nitric oxide production, hearts that can utilize glucose and lungs with an increased sensitivity to low oxygen. It wasn't until the 1920s that Sherpa became involved in climbing. The British, who controlled the Indian subcontinent at the time, planned mountain climbing expeditions and hired Sherpa as porters. Though numerous expeditions made the attempt, it wasn't until 1953 that Edmund Hillary and a Sherpa named Tenzing Norgay managed to reach the 29,028 foot (8,848 meter) peak of Mount Everest. Due to their willingness to work and ability to climb the world's highest peaks, mountaineering became part of the Sherpa culture.

About the Author - Chloe Xin My Name is Chloe, Senior Trip Advisor for Tibet trip with 5 years working experince in Tibet tourism. Loving Tibet, loving all beautiful thing around.A great funs of nature, with piercing eyes to find beauty in both Nature and People. Patient, Warm Hearted , Considerate, Easy- going , Knowledgeable and always ready to offer help to some one in need. At least 17 dead, others missing as Nepal quake rocks Mount Everest FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest At least 17 dead, others missing as Nepal quake rocks Mount Everest A team of mountain climbers on Mount Everest appears to be safe after a few hours of anguish in which the expedition leader asked for prayers on social media in the wake of the massive earthquake in Nepal. Post to Facebook At least 17 dead, others missing as Nepal quake rocks Mount Everest A team of mountain climbers on Mount Everest appears to be safe after a few hours of anguish in which the expedition leader asked for prayers on social media in the wake of the massive earthquake in Nepal. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

37 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs At least 17 dead, others missing as Nepal quake rocks Mount Everest Melanie Eversley and Tom Vanden Brook , USA TODAY Published 8:27 a.m. ET April 25, 2015 | Updated 11:07 p.m. ET April 25, 2015 CLOSE x Share A powerful earthquake struck Nepal Saturday, killing at least 1,180 people and triggering a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest. It was the worst quake to hit Nepal in decades. (April 25) AP In this photo provided by Azim Afif, shows a man approaching the scene after an avalanche triggered by a massive earthquake swept across Everest Base Camp, Nepal. (Photo: Azim Afif, AP) A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Nepal sparked a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest on Saturday, killing at least 17 people on the mountain. At least 30 were injured. Among the dead was Google engineer Dan Fredinburg.

It was not immediately clear how many of the deaths were located at the base camp, where at least 30 tents were flattened when the avalanche plowed into part of the camp. The exact number of injured or missing was also unknown. Google engineer killed in Everest avalanche Base camp is where journalists, climbers and their families gather and get news to the world about developments at Everest, the world's highest mountain above sea level. The disaster comes a little more than a year after another Everest avalanche killed 16 Sherpa guides, the highest death toll ever for an avalanche on the mountain. The guides protested the government's lack of protection for them by refusing to work, canceling the climbing season. More avalanches likely on Everest after quake Hundreds of climbers make summit attempts on Everest each year. In 2013, 800 climbers reached the summit. Carsten Lillelund Pedersen, a Dane who was climbing the Everest with a Belgian, Jelle Veyt, said on his Facebook page that they were at Khumbu Icefall, a rugged area of collapsed ice and snow close to base camp at 16,500 feet, when the earthquake hit.

He wrote on his Facebook page about one person with the most severe injuries who sustained many fractures. "He was blown away by the avalanche and broke both legs. For the camps closer to where the avalanche hit, our Sherpas believe that a lot of people may have been buried in their tents," he wrote in English. "There is now a steady flow of people fleeing basecamp in hope of more security further down the mountain" Veyt said on his Facebook page that he "ran for my life," and was fine. At least one team of climbers on Everest appears to be safe after a few hours of anguish in which the expedition leader asked for prayers on social media in the wake of the massive quake that killed more than 1,400. After some hours of silence and pleas from followers to post about the group's welfare, expedition leader Dan Mazur finally posted on Facebook at about 8 a.m. ET, "We felt the earthquake on the north side but have no damage and all are safe." Mazur, a team leader for the groups Summit Climb and Summit Trek, based in England and Washington state, was leading a team of 10 up Everest.

They were at Camp 1, about 3,000 feet above the base camp, when the quake hit. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Earthquake survivors prepare a meal before spending a night at an open shelter in Kathmandu. Philippe Lopez, AFP/Getty Images Fullscreen Rajan, a 37-year-old father of three, looks toward the building that collapsed over his wife and two sons after being informed by Nepali soldiers and Israeli rescue team IsraAid that the building where their bodies are still trapped will be sealed off due to being unstable and in danger of collapsing further. Diego Azubel, European PressPhoto Agency Fullscreen A member of Israeli search and rescue team IsraAid sits on a pile of rubble from a destroyed building as he takes a break from trying to recover the body of a victim from the devastating earthquake in Balaju, Kathmandu, Nepal. Diego Azubel, European PressPhoto Agency A member of a Korean search and rescue team sprays bug spray to get rid of a large number of flies in the area as they try to recover bodies of victims from the devastating earthquake in Balaju, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Diego Azubel, European PressPhoto Agency People walk in the street in Kathmandu, Nepal. David Ramos, Getty Images A man carries a gas can in Kathmandu, Nepal. David Ramos, Getty Images A Nepalese volunteer sprays disinfectant under a building where a body was just recovered in Balaju, Kathmandu, Nepal. Diego Azubel, European PressPhoto Agency Nepalese volunteers spray disinfectant under a building where a body was found in Balaju, Kathmandu, Nepal. Diego Azubel, European PressPhoto Agency Nepalese villagers walk near their makeshift tents at Laprak village in Gorkha district in Nepal. Sajjad Hussain, AFP/Getty Images Fullscreen A flower blooms above destroyed homes in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Four survivors were rescued in northern Nepal, eight days after the earthquake hit the Himalayan country, officials said. The government updated the confirmed official death toll to 7,040, as reports of rescue workers digging out more dead bodies from the rubble in rural villages continue to pour in. Narendra Shrestha, European PressPhoto Agency People walk past debris from the earthquake in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

David Ramos Nepalese people search for belongings from their damaged homes in Sankhu town in the Kathmandu Valley. Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images A Nepalese father cries as holds his injured boy inside an Indian army helicopter as they are airlifted from Dhunchet village in Gorkha district in Nepal. Sajjad Hussain, AFP/Getty Images Nepali policemen help lower furniture from an upper storey of a damaged house in Shanku, Kathmandu region, Nepal. Abir Abdullah, European PressPhoto Agency A search and rescue team from the Royal Thai Armed Forces together with members of the Nepalese army dig at the entrance of a home in search of the owner's body in Sankhu, Nepal. Diego Azubel, European PressPhoto Agency People carry a wardrobe on a street in Bhaktapur, Nepal. David Ramos, Getty Images People work on a dusty street during removal operations in Bhaktapur, Nepal. David Ramos, Getty Images Balkrishna Khatiwada and his daughter Durga Khatiwada work to rebuild the family home in Bhotechaur, Nepal.

Chris McGrath, Getty Images A woman carries a basket with belongings saved from her home through Barpak, Nepal, on May 1. Diego Azubel, European Pressphoto Agency Residents return to their homes in Barpak, Nepal, on May 1. Diego Azubel, European Pressphoto Agency Workers prepare to offload food packets to be distributed by the World Food Program in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 2. Manan Vatsyayana, AFP/Getty Images Nepalese volunteers collect belongings from a damaged house at Swayambhunath stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 2. Prakash Mathema, AFP/Getty Images A Nepalese woman lights a lamp in front of portraits of Chanchala Shreshta, left, and Parbati Shreshta, both victims of last week's earthquake, in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 2. Bernat Armangue, AP Search-and-rescue team workers look through the rubble in Sakhu, Nepal, on May 2.

Sedat Suna, European Pressphoto Agency Nepalese women line up to receive a daily stipend of food from the Nepalese army at a camp in Kathmandu on May 1. Roberto Schmidt, AFP/Getty Images A Polish rescue worker looks for earthquake survivors under a collapsed building in a severely damaged neighbourhood in Kathmandu. Nicolas Asfouri, AFP/Getty Images Nomita Khadka leans on her crutches as she looks at the remains of her home in Kathmandu. Nomita escaped with only a twisted ankle after a devastating earthquake hit the Himalayan nation April 25. Roberto Schmidt, AFP/Getty Images Nepalese soldiers and members of a search-and-rescue team work on a destroyed building in Kathmandu. Sedat Suna, European Pressphoto Agency Members of a search-and-rescue team work in the rubble of a destroyed building in Kathmandu. Sedat Suna, European Pressphoto Agency A boy walks across a suspension bridge leading toward the destroyed village of Baluwa, Nepal, on April 30. Villagers in quake-stricken Nepal distributed emergency provisions among themselves as official aid and rescue operations continued to be held up.

Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency A group of people carrying relief material return to their destroyed village of Baluwa, Nepal. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency A Nepalese soldier walks through the debris of buildings that collapsed during the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Shankhu on April 30. David Ramos, Getty Images Sanjhana Tamang takes care of her daughter, Simran, at a temporary hospital in Shanku. The child is suffering from typhoid fever. David Ramos, Getty Images A woman looks at destroyed buildings in Sankhuckhock Sukute village. Sedat Suna, European Pressphoto Agency Pemba Tamang is evacuated after being removed from a collapsed building by Nepalese and U.S. rescuers in Kathmandu. Tamang spent five days buried under the rubble. Niranjan Shrestha, AP The wall of a home in Sakhu collapsed during the earthquake. Bernat Armangue, AP Earthquake victims search for their belongings in Bhaktapur on April 29. David Ramos, Getty Images A soldier guards a destroyed temple in Bashantapur. Chris McGrath, Getty Images People search through the debris of their destroyed home.

David Ramos, Getty Images A woman searches for her belongings. David Ramos, Getty Images Villages in Sindhupalchwok district were damaged by the earthquake. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency Homes near Dhadingbesti were flattened by the quake. Manish Swarup, AP Villagers wait in the rain as a relief helicopter lands at their village in Gumda. Wally Santana, AP Fullscreen A mother carries her son in Uiya village, in northern-central Gorkha district, on April 29. Hungry and desperate villagers rushed toward relief helicopters in remote areas of Nepal, begging to be airlifted to safety, four days after a monster earthquake killed more than 5,000 people. Sajjad Hussain, AFP/Getty Images A man passes a collapsed temple at Durbar Square in Bhaktapur. Diego Azubel, European Pressphoto Agency A resident carries two ducks he found in the rubble of a destroyed home in Harisddhi. Nicolas Asfouri, AFP/Getty Images A woman stands in silence in front of the historic Bal Krishna Thapa Chhetry temple, which was heavily damaged by the earthquake in Kathmandu.

Abir Abdullah, European Pressphoto Agency Spanish rescue workers use a dog to sniff out survivors buried in the debris from earthquake-damaged buildings on April 28 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Nicolas Asfouri, AFP/Getty Images A man walks along a street choked with rubble from homes damaged by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Bhaktapur. Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images A resident salvages his belongings from his destroyed home in Bhaktapur. Bernat Armangue, AP Volunteers and earthquake rescue team members clear the debris from a collapsed temple near Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur. Omar Havana, Getty Images Only rubble is left of a UNESCO World Heritage Site temple at Patan Durbar Square. Omar Havana, Getty Images A woman picks her way through debris in Bhaktapur. Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images A woman rests in a makeshift tent in Kathmandu. Nicolas Asfouri, AFP/Getty Images A Nepalese security force soldier walks through a damaged neighborhood in Kathmandu. Nicolas Asfouri, AFP/Getty Images Shoes and camping gear are scattered across an area after an avalanche hit a Mount Everest base camp.

Nima Namgyal Sherpa, AP Soldiers carry Sita Karka, who has two broken legs, from a helicopter in Gorkha. Wally Santana, AP A family views buildings damaged by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on April 27 in Vhaktapur. Abir Abdullah, European Pressphoto Agency People ride between debris from damaged buildings in Vhaktapur. ABIR ABDULLAH, EPA Rescue workers search for survivors in Vhaktapur. ABIR ABDULLAH, EPA People pass the wreckage of buildings destroyed by a massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Bhaktapur. Niranjan Shrestha, AP A volunteer works at a collapsed temple at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu. Omar Havana, Getty Images Volunteers and emergency workers search for victims in the debris of collapsed temples at Basantapur Durbar Square. Omar Havana, Getty Images People search for survivors at one of the collapsed temples at Basantapur Durbar Square. Omar Havana, Getty Images An injured earthquake victim is treated at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.

Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency People stand on a large mound of debris that was once a temple in Kathmandu. Abir Abdullah, European Pressphoto Agency A family collects belongings from their destroyed home in Bhaktapur. Niranjan Shrestha, AP A woman passes a damaged home in Balaju. Prakash Singh, AFP/Getty Images A man carries his salvaged belongings in Bhaktapur. Niranjan Shrestha, AP Nepalese soldiers place an injured woman on an Indian air force helicopter in Trishuli Bazar. Altaf Qadri, AP Injured earthquake victims are evacuated From Trishuli Bazar on an Indian air force helicopter. Altaf Qadri, AP A woman mourns in front of her destroyed home in Kumalpur village outside Kathmandu. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency People conduct a mass cremation of victims on April 26 in Kathmandu. Abir Abdullah, European Pressphoto Agency A man sits next to the body of a victim before cremation ceremony at the Pashupatinath temple near the Bagmati River in Kathmandu.

Bernat Armangue, AP The historic Syambhunaath Stupa in Kathmandu, also known as Monkey Temple, was damaged by the powerful earthquake. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency Relatives cry over the body of an earthquake victim at Bir Hospital in Kathmandu. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency Indian soldiers arrive with supplies at the Tribhuwan International Airport. Wally Santana, AP India's National Disaster Response Force personnel look for survivors in a building in Kathmandu. Manish Swarup, AP Nepalese residents carry belongings after spending the night outdoors. Prakash Mathema, AFP/Getty Images Tents are set up in an open field next to Tribhuwan International Airport. Wally Santana, AP Residents spend the night by a fire at a school in Kathmandu. Omar Havana, Getty Images A Buddha statue is surrounded by debris from a collapsed temple at the UNESCO world heritage site in Bhaktapur. Omar Havana, Getty Images Two men help clear debris after buildings collapsed on April 26, 2015, in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Omar Havana, Getty Images A police officer walks down a street covered in debris after buildings collapsed on April 26, 2015, in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Omar Havana, Getty Images A man climbs on top of debris after buildings collapsed on April 26, 2015, in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Omar Havana, Getty Images A Nepalese woman holds the hand of her dead relative at a hospital in Kathmandu. Manish Swarup, AP People free a man from the rubble of a destroyed building in Kathmandu on April 25. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency Earthquake victims are helped in Kathmandu's Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was severely damaged by the earthquake. Prakash Mathema, AFP/Getty Images People help a man from the rubble of a destroyed building. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency People search for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buuildings in Kathmandu's Durbar Square. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency A man stands in front of a building that collapsed at Durbar Square, after an earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Niranjan Shrestha, AP Volunteers work to remove debris at the historic Dharahara Tower in Kathmandu, Nepal. Niranjan Shrestha, AP In this photo provided by Azim Afif, shows a man approaching the scene after an avalanche triggered by a massive earthquake swept across Everest Base Camp, Nepal. Azim Afif, AP Injured people receive treatment outside the Medicare Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Niranjan Shrestha, AP Relatives of a victim react after an earthquake caused serious damage in Kathmandu. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency Volunteers carry the body of a victim on a stretcher. Niranjan Shrestha, AP Emergency workers search for survivors in the debris of Dharara Tower. Omar Havana, Getty Images Piles of debris from destroyed buildings are scattered across Durbar Square in Kathmandu. Niranjan Shrestha, AP People search for survivors in the rubble of a destroyed building after an earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 25, 2015. Narendra Shresthra, European Pressphoto Agency A group of people gather outdoors on a street.

Niranjan Shrestha, AP A man is stuck under the rubble of a destroyed building. Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency Rescuers look for victims under a building that collapsed in Katmandu. Niranjan Shrestha, AP An injured child lies on the ground outside the Medicare Hospital. Niranjan Shrestha, AP Nepalese rescue members remove a body of a victim from Darahara Tower in Katmandu. Prakash Mathema, AFP/Getty Images Nepalese walk past collapsed buildings at Lalitpur. Prakash Mathema, AFP/Getty Images Survivors comfort each other after the earthquake. Narendra Shrestha, epa Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Four climbers dead on Everest, 'mountain of extremes' - CNN.com Four climbers dead on Everest, 'mountain of extremes' By Phurba Sherpa and Sugam Pokharel , CNN Updated 10:12 PM ET, Mon May 23, 2016 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED How hard is it to climb Mt. Everest?

01:08 Story highlights A Sherpa, a Dutch man, an Australian woman and an Indian man are among the deaths Two Indian climbers are missing, expedition organizers said (CNN) Danger has long been part of the allure of climbing the world's highest peak. Avalanches killed 35 climbers on Mount Everest the past two years -- including 16 in one devastating day in 2014. At least one person has died climbing the mountain in Nepal every year since 1900. And now the 2016 climbing season has claimed its first victims. Since last Thursday four people have died on the 29,035-foot peak, including a Sherpa. Rescue efforts are ongoing for two other missing climbers. "Everest is a mountain of extremes," said Jon Kedrowski, a geographer and climber who summited Mount Everest in 2012, when 10 climbers died. "At altitude, the body deteriorates on a certain level. Read More The recent deaths -- coming so quickly on the heels of one another -- have rattled climbers who are beginning their descent as the Everest climbing season nears its end.

April and May are the most common months to attempt a climb because there tends to be less wind. Regardless, the climate on the mountain is brutal. Temperatures range from -31 to -4 Fahrenheit. April was the first month of climbing since all ascent was halted after the catastrophic earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015 and a deadly avalanche that killed 16 Sherpas in one day in 2014. More than 200 climbers have died since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first official ascent in 1953. And yet the hopefuls keep coming. More than 400 people have attempted the Everest climb this season, including 288 foreigners and more than 100 Sherpas and guides, said Sudarshan Dhakal, director of the Nepal Tourism Department. That's more than the average for previous seasons, he said. Here's a closer look at the recent fatalities. Thursday Crew member Phurba Sherpa (no relation to the journalist of the same name) fell to his death.

The 25-year-old had been working to fix a route about 150 meters near the summit when he fell, according to Mingma Sherpa, the Nepal rescue team leader who was at the Everest Base Camp. The Sherpa people are an ethnic group from Nepal who have lived in the high altitudes of the Himalayas for generations. They have long served as guides whose local expertise has been invaluable for foreigners attempting Everest climbs. Friday Eric Arnold, 36, of the Netherlands, died at night while heading back after a successful summit on Everest, according to Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, the owner of Seven Summit Treks. A heart attack was suspected, he said. Eric Arnold on a climb. Arnold was a triathlete based in Rotterdam, according to his Twitter bio. While it's unknown what might have caused Arnold's apparent heart attack, one of the first steps for anyone considering an Everest trek is to consult a doctor for a full evaluation to screen for any pre-existing conditions, experts say. If Kedrowski is leading a peak expedition, he screens his clients and designs training programs to help them prepare for the journey. When altitude is a consideration, cardio is the emphasis, rather than strength, Kedrowski said.

The elevation at Everest Base Camp is 17,590 feet, an altitude that decreases oxygen by about 50%. Before attempting a May summit, Kedrowski recommends arriving at base camp toward the beginning of April to acclimatize for a few weeks. Well aware of the hazards of climbing Everest, Dr. Luanne Freer founded the Everest Base Camp Medical Clinic in 2003. Physicians with mountaineering medical expertise and volunteers staff a medical tent during each climbing season. What can happen to your body on Everest Saturday An Australian woman, Maria Strydom, who was also traveling with the Seven Summit Treks, started suffering altitude sickness. She had reached Camp IV, the final camp before the summit. A rescue attempt failed to reach Maria Strydom. Strydom, 34, could not climb any higher and a rescue attempt to reach her failed, according to Tashi Sherpa. The finance professor at Monash Business School in Australia died Saturday before she could come back down to Camp III. High-altitude cough and acute mountain sickness, which can mean headaches and shortness of breath, are common among Everest climbers, Kedrowski said.

Strydom gave an interview with the school in March detailing her ambition to climb the highest summit on each of the seven continents. She had already climbed Denali in Alaska , Aconcagua in Argentina, Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey and Kilimanjaro in Africa. She had planned to climb Everest with her husband, inspired in part by questions the couple received about their vegan diet. Her mother, Maritha Strydom, who had been posting updates about her daughter and son-in-law's expedition, said on Facebook: "I'm just too devastated to communicate, sorry." She posted hours later that she was "praying" for her son-in-law, who the Australian media reported was battling "against congestive heart failure." Sunday Subash Paul, 44, died at Base Camp II from altitude sickness, according to Wangchu Sherpa, Managing Director of Trekking Camp Nepal. Paul was part of a team (consisting of four Indian climbers and four Sherpas) that also saw two members -- Paresh Chandra Nath and Goutam Ghosh -- go missing Saturday night. "It is not clear what happened. We believe the weather suddenly deteriorated at some point, and the team lost direction," Wanchu Sherpa said.

An official at Nepal Tourism Department, Gyanendra Shrestha, said a helicopter search was not possible because the climbers were too high up the mountain. "We are trying to communicate with other expedition teams around that level to locate the missing climbers," Shresthra said. The fourth climber from the team, Sunita Hazra, was rescued and is undergoing treatment at base camp. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Nepal quake shifted Mount Everest three centimeters 02:51 Meanwhile, an Indian woman suffered severe frostbite injuries near Camp IV after climbing Everest from the Nepal side. Seema Goswami was undergoing treatment at a hospital after being airlifted from the Everest region, said Pemba Sherpa, the Seven Summit Treks manager. Since the 2016 climbing season opened on Everest, about 300 people have scaled, according to data from Everest Base Camp as of Saturday. Photos: Exploring Mount Everest The journey to the summit of Mount Everest is a challenge an increasing number have taken on since the summit was first reached in in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Until the late 1970s, only a handful of climbers per year reached the summit.

By 2012 that number rose to more than 500. Hide Caption Mt. Everest Climbing Sherpas- Legends of the Tall- Everest Veterans WHAT IS A SHERPA? The ethnic group inhabiting the Everest region. They moved to this region from Tibet over 500 years ago. Sherpas are Buddhists and believe the mountain is the home of an enlightened deity. The name "sherpa" literally means "people from the east" and not a person who carries your luggage for you as many people think. WHAT IS A PORTER? A porter can be a sherpa living in the Everest region or a Nepalese living elsewhere in the Himalayas. A porter is the term used for the work they do carrying your luggage and other goods up and down the valley's to stock the villages or work for you on a trek. Some speak English but most do not. Everyone is a porter at one time in their life in the Himalayas. The ones that learn English and work with foreigners eventually start working in the tourism industry as guides. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF A CLIMBING SHERPA GUIDE and A TREKKING SHERPA GUIDE?

All sherpa guides and other Nepalese guides working in the tourism and mountaineering industry follow rank. They start by learning a second language working as a porter be it Japanese, French, English, German and so on. They would learn these languages by working with international expeditions usually on Everest. Then they earn the time to learn in a cook tent on expedition, learn about food and get acquainted with foreigners. Some become such good friends during an expedition that members take them to their country where many find a part-time job working in the food industry before returning to Nepal with their newly acquired skills. After time they start working on the mountain and learning from their western mountain guides and eventually get certified by the Manang Mountaineering School establish in 1979. This enables them to work on the mountains a climbing guides. All sherpa guides must have their NMA card to work in the mountains. Trekking sherpa guides or Nepalese trekking guides speak good English and have a good understanding of the area they work in. They are sometimes sherpa climbing guides who for an example in the autumn are not on a climbing expedition so take up other work in the guiding industry.

And some are guides that have no desire to work on the mountains because of the cost of the mountain school or are afraid from the haunts of lost family members in the mountains. HOW TO HIRE A TREKKING GUIDE Be careful! Some arrive in Kathmandu and take a guide from one of the local trekking shops. Later they may learn this guide has not been to the trekking region they are taking you to. They will never tell you this but it becomes evident quite quickly that they are out of their comfort zone. Also be very careful doing it this way because sometime some of these guides have never been to altitude or have proper clothing for the cold nights and days on the trek. If you go this route make sure you ask questions and check their gear to see that they have proper boots, a sleeping bag, coat and rain protection. Another way people sometimes do it is to arrive at the gateway of your trek like Lukla or Pokhara and select a trekking guide at the airstrip. Also be careful here! Worker's will walk for miles to try to catch a job in the industry.

Some come for the lowlands where altitude will be a problem for them and access to adequate clothing will be even more difficult for the to acquire in theses regions. HOW TO HIRE A SHERPA CLIMBING GUIDE Hiring a professional climbing guide is like most countries where they are governed by rules and regulations in this capacity. They are complex requirements of proper permits, liaisons and applications and is best to work through a credible mountaineering organization when hiring a Sherpa climbing guide. They do freelance and are connected to some Nepalese mountaineering organizations. WHAT DOES A SHERPA GUIDE COST? Trekking guides work on a day rate. Some includes meals and some do not. This is open to negotiations and vary considerably. WHAT DOES A CLIMBING SHERPA GUIDE COST? Climbing sherpa guides depending on the mountain they are climbing, its location and height and duration determines their wage. Also a consideration is the infrastructure they work with, comfort, quality and number of members they are responsible for. Some companies pay more or less depending on the individual negotiations that take place pre-climb. Expeditions are required to provide an equipment allowance as set for by the Nepalese government.

Many climbing Sherpas today have substantial equipment from previous expeditions so they will opt to have the allowance paid in cash or, they will sometimes sell their climbing equipment one season and therefore need new equipment the next. Each season is different and so is the price. THE LIVING LEGEND Gyalzen Sherpa (Pal Dorje Sherpa) now 83 was born in Namche Bazaar in 1920. Uneducated due to lack of schools in the Khumbu at that time spend his childhood herding yaks and collection firewood. At the age of 22 he married a sherpa girl from Namche Bazaar named Pemba Lhaki Sherpa and had 9 children, unfortunately only 2 out of 9 survived and one we at Peak Freak's have had the opportunity to get to know. At times when the house is full of just our team members she will bring her precious photo album out to share with everyone. Sherpas have been recruited as high altitude porters by expeditions as early as the 1920's. Because Nepal was closed to westerners, Darjeeling, near Kachenjunga in India was the base of all major climbing expeditions.

Lots of people during his time migrated from the Khumbu to Darjeeling in search of mountaineering jobs. The fancy clothing and wrist watches of the Sherpas who returned from such climbing expeditions. However, the youngest child his responsibilities were at home taking care of the yaks and trading salt. When Nepal opened its borders to westerners in the early 1950's expeditions began recruiting climbing Sherpa from Nepal instead of Darjeeling. As a result he got his break in 19522 when the Swiss expeditions to Mount Everest guided by Tenzing Norgey Sherpa hired him as a high altitude porter to carry oxygen and supplies to the south col of 26000ft. After 1952 he was well on his way. He worked for many expeditions including the historic Sir Edmund Hillary expedition with Tenzing Norgey Sherpa who summited on May 29th 1953. Being par of the successful expedition he was honored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth It's Coronation Medal. He is one of the oldest surviving climbers in he world. A living legend for the Sherpa community.

He still lives in Namche Bazaar at the age of 83. FAMOUS SHERPA CLIMBER PASSES AWAY - July 14, 2008 Dear Becky, This is to inform you that Mr. Gyalzen Sherpa expired a week ago in Namche Bazaar. His funeral was held on July 7,2008. His wife Pemba Lhaki is now 93 years old and is survived by a daughter. their eldest son died of motorbike accident and the elder daughter died of cancer. My father Mr. Pasang Futar Sherpa was also in the 1953 Everest Expedition with the famed Hillary and Tenzing. My father expired 8 years ago and I am his second son. Gyalzen Sherpa is my father's sister in-law ( married to my fathers younger sister now aged 93) It is so nice to see you are keeping track of our senior sherpas for the world to see.

Best regards, In memory of our dear Lhakpa Tsering Sherpa On Jan.1, 2003, the beginning of a new year, the phone rang with news that has deeply saddened many, the death of a wonderful man. December 30, 2003 Lhakpa Tsering Sherpa passed away while visiting his yak pasture. Lhakpa had just left our home in Canada late November were we had shared many memories of days gone by. Our lives are richer and have more meaning due to people such as Lhakpa. His unbridled exuberance touched many people around the world. Without question, the world was a better place because he was part of it. We will miss him, but we will not forget him During our many years of expeditions and travel we have crossed paths with thousands of people. A handful of these people have affected us deeply and changed our souls forever. Our dear friend Lhakpa Tsering Sherpa was one of those individuals. Lhakpa was introduced to us by Pat Morrow during our first trip to the north side of Everest with the 1991 Canadian "Climb for Hope" Everest Expedition.

Pat Morrow summited in 1982 with Lhakpa marking not only Canada's first successful Everest summit but it was also Lhakpa's first Everest summit. This individual immediately caught my attention, an obvious extravert, characterized by not only his eccentric edge on dress, including the bright bandanas, but by his spontaneous laughter that erupted continually. Lhakpaï¿½s spunk for life was never hindered by language, situation, people or, even outrageous circumstances. My very first experience of Lhakpaï¿½s spunk and ability to disperse a difficult and emotional time was during this 1991 Everest expedition. The time had come for the wives of the expedition team to leave the Tibetan base camp to head back to Kathmandu so that the climb could begin. The Tibetan driver was poised in his jeep anxiously waiting to depart. Our good byes were long accompanied by tears and sad faces. Lhakpa, being the playful catalyst for laughter, quickly jumped into the jeep and started blowing the horn to a tune in his head while bobbing up and down in the seat of the jeep. It was so hilarious that tears were turned into barrels of laughter.

Onward we went our hearts a little lighter and our spirits encouraged in that moment about leaving our loved ones to tackle the tallest mountain in the world. That was our Lhakpa!! Lhakpa was 49 years old and was born in Kunde in the Everest region of Nepal. His parents passed away when he was a young man. He was raised by his Aunt Urken Doma and Uncle Pemba who didn't have any children. Lhakpa is survived by his Aunt and has two brothers, Pemba Nuru who lives in Khunde and Ang Pemba who lives in Khumjung and two sisters whom are married, his older sister, Pemba Doma lives in Khunde and his younger sister, Pem Phuti lives in Khumjung. Lhakpa is married to Nim Phutti and has two sons Sonam Tashi 16 & Ang Tshering 14. Our company, Peak Freak Expeditions, began its life in Nepal in 1991 and Lhakpa became our expedition Sardar, trek leader and family. Lhakpaï¿½s family became our family.

Lhakpa's wife Nim Phutti was a pleasant addition to the trips; she became involved with both our climbing expeditions and trekking groups. She was almost as colourful as Lhakpa and loved to laugh as much as he, Lhakpa fondly referred to her as his "party girl". We were also graced many times with the presence of Lhakpa's Uncle Pemba who herded the Zok's for our expeditions. Uncle Pemba slowly deteriorated over the years, his small frame becoming more fragile and his health more precarious. The time came upon arrival into the valley, that I learned Pempa would not be meeting us in Lukla, his legs were too weak for the trip. With great concern I departed from my group and made way to his home in Kunde. I found Pemba enjoying the sun outside. We took some tea, thanks to Aunt Urken, and his binoculars, and headed off to the field to enjoy a moment together. Though Pembaï¿½s English was sparse we always managed to communicate with no problem. After finishing our tea we lay down on the freshly tilled potato field.

Tim and Lhakpa were climbing on Ama Dablam at this time and we were trying to see if we could spot them. It was the most magical afternoon. In our spirits we both knew that this was good-bye and I am so grateful for those moments we shared. Those moments have a special spot on my heart forever, right next to the spot for Lhakpa. Over the 14 years that Tim and I knew him, Lhakpa never wavered in his friendships. He would seem to magically appear at just the right time. He always amazed me how he seemed to know the moment Tim and I had arrived in Nepal. I remember a time when I needed a day in Namche Bazaar to recover from a cold. Lhakpa heard of my situation and scampered down from Everest, a full days walk (by Sherpa measurements only) to bring me a power bar from the expedition cache and left a half an hour later back to Everest Base Camp. He seemed to have a knack with identifying people that were in need and acted quickly to help remedy the situation.

One time, during an Ama Dablam expedition I started to feel anxious and concerned, especially when the clouds rolled in preventing us from watching the team as they climbed. However Lhakpa was right there. He quickly built a fire and started burning juniper for good luck. The smoke created an eerie feeling at the camp magnifying my feelings. I didnï¿½t want anyone to see how worried I was, so I snuck away to my tent to have a moment by myself but moments later the zipper was opened and Lhakpa jumped in. He lay down beside me, held me in his arms, and started to talk to me about how everything was fine, encouraged me to be happy that the team was so close to the summit afd everything was good. He even managed to break me up into a fit ob laughter, which was no small task during moments like thats we. We had some chuckles about his first visit to Canada to our home and discovered the dishwasher, first time on skiis, seeing the ocean for the first time and more. .

All was forgotten, a cup of tea, and when he started to sing the words to a new Nepalese song at that time "Pani Man" which was about rain, teasing me about my tears. That was my Lhakpa! Both trekkers and climbers alike, from the many different expeditions, talk about Lhakpa being a major part of their Himalayan expe2ience. T(ere Are so many stories it couLd fill a book with the comments from the people whose heart he touched. He was the epitome of the Sherp` quahities, compassion, laughter, joy, kindness, and generosity. Lhakpa fully embraced every ioment. A few of these memorable momentr include: times he wou,d run ahead of the grou` to 0eel potatoes at the lodges so they could all have fanger chips for lunch (a big treat along the way), assisting with deliveping water bnttles and batteries for their head lamps in the dark during the early morning ascents on Kala Pattar, running (not walking) ahead to secure the nights lodging. Lhakpa was always very sensitive to everyone; every group was rpecial to him.

<span>He would invite each group to his home for lunch in Kunde as part of the trip. A home that was filled with an eclectic mix of memorabilia, walls covered in old expedition photos of his climbs on Everest, expedition barrels and bags chock full of clothing and gear from past climbs. He was always pulling out something to wear that had Canada represented on it. While the trekkers and climbers were enjoying the visual journey through the past, a wonderful tea with goodies would be served. That was Lhakpa! Lhakpa contributed to 24 expeditions throughout his long and successful climbing career. After several years of working with the officials Pat Morrow finally convinced the Nepalese government to let Lhakpa come to Canada in 1992, this was so exciting not only for Lhakpa but also for those of us he was visiting. Lhakpa had never been outside Nepal, so he had never seen the ocean, never flown on a large plane, never saw such technological devices. He traveled to Alberta and throughout the interior of British Columbia to visit all his past climbing partners and friends. Of course every visit was special! There was just so much to share with our dear friend.

He had a keen sense of adventure and never said never should it be Heli-Skiing, sailing or hang gliding, he was in. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the time after death can be very difficult and critical. Those close to Lhakpa must send him their unconditional love and reassure him that though we miss him, all will be well with his loved ones that he left behind. He must be able to continue his journey with our blessings, love, assurances and he must travel on the other side of the mountain in the same way he traveled on this side; full of confidence and joy. I am sure that he can make this journey on his own, but it is easier and better to do it with the support of your loved ones.

LHAKPA TSERING SHERPA CLIMBING BIO 1979- Spring Yugoslav Everest Expedition 1979- Autumn German Everest Expedition,/span> 1980- German Kanchenjunga Expedithon 1982- Canadian Everest Expedition- summit with Pat Morrow 1983- German/American Everest 1985- American Everest (west ridge) 1987- Snowbird Everest Expedition 1988- Korean Everest Expedition- summit 1991- Canadian Everest North Expedition 1994- Canadian Everest North Expedition 1996- New Zealand Everest- summit- Alan Hobson and Jamie Clarke 1997- Canadian Everest- summit 1998- American Everest with Tom Whitaker200 2000- Canadian Everest South Guided Everest Tours - How Climbing Mount Everest Works | HowStuffWorks How Climbing Mount Everest Works Image courtesy Alan Arnette Beginning in the 1990s, experienced climbers like Rob Hall began organizing group tours, which made Everest accessible for the first time to less experienced people.

Guided tours will involve an expedition leader, other guides and a Sherpa support team. There are pros and cons to joining a guided tour, but if you are considering it, experts recommend that you climb another, less difficult mountain with them first. Even "solo" climbers often hire Sherpas to assist with the climb, and hiring a cook for Camp II can greatly improve the quality of your experience. Up Next The Ultimate Climbing Mt. Everest Quiz Cost The average cost of a fully guided journey up Everest from the south side is $65,000. A fully guided climb from the north costs somewhat less, averaging around $40,000. These costs do not typically include personal gear, international airfare , or insurance , all of which can add thousands to the trip. Starting from scratch, the required gear would run at least $8,000. The figure is closer to $15,000 with the addition of items like a laptop and digital camera . Sherpa 101 Many people associate the term "Sherpa" (pronounced "shar-wa") with the job of Everest porter.

However, Sherpa actually means "easterners" or "east-people," and refers to clans that came from Tibet and settled the eastern reaches of Nepal about 500 years ago. Traditionally, the Sherpa people were agriculturalists and traders, but beginning in the 1920s they were hired as porters for mountaineering expeditions. Known for dedication to their work and superior physiological adaptations to high altitudes, Sherpas became integral to the success of Everest ventures and climbers increasingly employed them for assistance. Approximately 30,000 Sherpas live in Nepal, and around 3000 of them live in the Khumbu region on the south side of Everest. Since the 1950s, tourism has become the dominant source of employment and income in the area. Many Sherpas, as well as people from other ethnic groups, work as part of the climbing and tourism industry. While the Sherpa people retain their Buddhist religion and many of their traditional practices, this shift in the local economy and way of life has necessarily meant changes in the Sherpa culture.

Among these, there has been a shift from regarding climbing the mountain as blasphemous, to regarding it as a source of economic opportunity and pride. Sherpas hold many impressive Everest records, including most times summitted for men and women, quickest ascent, quickest descent, most time spent on top and youngest climber to reach the summit. Mt. Everest, Tibet Mt. Everest, Qomolangma in Tibet, Tibet travel Mt. Everest Mt. Everest in Tibet - The Highest Mountain in the World The highest mountain on earth is known as Qomolangma in Tibetan,Sagarmatha in Nepali, or Mt Everest in English. Mt Everest can be seen from hundreds of kilometers away and appears as a shining silver pyramid in the distance. The mountain is snow covered all year round, and has inspired artists and drawn Buddhist pilgrims for centuries. Known as a sacred mountain in Tibet, it is revered by all Tibetans. No Sherpa will lead a mountaineering group up Mt Everest without first stopping to burn incense and leave offerings to the gods to ensure that they will have a successful climb.

The Tibetan name means"mother goddess of the universe", the Nepali name means"goddess of the sky",and in English it was named after Sir Everest, the 19th century British surveyor general of India. The mountain which is part of the high Asian Himalayas is located on the border between China's Tibet and Nepal. The summit of Mt Everest is 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level. Mt Everest's location is latitude 27 59' N longitude 86 56' E. Ever since Edmund Hillery and Tenzing Norgay, the first climbers to reach Mt Everest's summit in 1953, Mt Everest has been attracting climbers of all levels. Climbers of all skill levels have ascended the mountain. The mountain does not pose a high level of technical difficulty. It is the lack of oxygen,high winds and freezing cold that pose the biggest threat. Mt Everest has two main climbing routes as well as numerous less frequently climbed routes. The two main routes are Southeast Ridge Route from Nepal and the Northeast Ridge Route from China. The Southeast Ridge Route is the easier of the two, and therefore the more commonly used.

In 2007, there were 3,679 successful climbs to the summit of Mt Everest. Very few significant climbs up Mt Everest have ever been accomplished without the help of Sherpas. They are an ethnic group who are typically employed as guides for climbing Mt Everest. They are elite mountaineers who have grown up on the low-oxygen Tibetan Plateau making them immune to altitude sickness. They have amazing physical endurance,seem to be the happiest people on earth, and are quick with a smile. The Rongbuk Monastery located at the foot of Mt Everest, at an elevation of 5,000meters (16,404 feet), is the highest temple in the world. The monastery is the best place from which to view Mt Everest and the nearby Rongbuk Glacier which is the largest of the hundreds of glaciers located around Mt Everest. Although few people will ever be able to, or feel the desire to climb Mt Everest, it is still an awe-inspiring place. Viewing it from the Rongbuk Monastery or the nearby Everest base camp has never failed to overwhelm visitors.

Amateurs Invade Mount Everest: Long Lines On Top Of The World, But Some Reap The Benefits Amateurs Invade Mount Everest: Long Lines On Top Of The World, But Some Reap The Benefits Close When Mark Jenkins reached the summit of Mount Everest last year, he barely had space to take in the view. On May 25, 2012, the peak was buzzing with activity. Climbers were everywhere. The highest point in the world might be the last place you’d expect to find a crowd of people. But last spring, more than 500 climbers made it to the summit of Everest -- most within the same short window of favorable conditions in late May. The head count just keeps on rising, year on year. “It’s not the same experience; the standard route has become domesticated,” Jenkins said. “It has become declawed.” This is old news to mountaineers. The extreme altitude and remoteness of Mount Everest -- it is 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level in eastern Nepal -- no longer deters even amateur climbers, provided they are wealthy enough to pay for a professional guide.

That doesn’t mean the risks of ascent have been mitigated. More than 230 people have lost their lives on Mount Everest, including 10 people last year and six during the 2013 climbing season. It’s a sad story -- but not for everyone. Mount Everest adventurism brings a steady stream of revenue into one of the poorest countries in the world; it also brings more people face to face with one of nature’s greatest marvels. [[nid:1273745]] For the past few years, the main route to Everest’s summit -- the Southeast Ridge, which begins in Nepal -- has been clogged with people during the few days each year when weather conditions are right for the attempt. That’s typically in the spring, just ahead of monsoon season. The slow-moving throng seems out of place in such a majestic setting. During daylight hours, the adventurers make for a clumsy parade of colorful coats. At night, glowing lanterns bob in single file along a congested trail beneath a canopy of brilliant stars.

Many of the climbers who compose this traffic have limited experience; they simply hire guides to help them along, paying anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000. These clients are usually clipped onto a single fixed line -- a rope anchored into the mountain -- from which they cannot deviate, except in case of emergency. That’s not to say the ascent is easy; far from it. The icy terrain can be unforgiving, and temperatures at the summit on a good day are around -15 degrees Fahrenheit, or -26 degrees Celsius. But it’s not the cold that gets you at first -- it’s the atmosphere, which grows thinner the higher you ascend. The lack of oxygen can cause intense fatigue or confusion. It also inhibits the body’s ability to keep warm. “Grab a straw at your local coffee shop, put it in your mouth, and run up some stairs breathing only through the straw,” Jenkins said. “That’s what it’s like; your lungs are sucking for air.” The vast majority of climbers use oxygen masks, but traffic on the mountain can slow them down so much that their oxygen supplies deplete to dangerous levels.

Ten people died on Everest last year -- Jenkins passed four of their corpses on the way up. Often, these tragedies result from hubris or naïveté; amateur climbers think a guide will make up for their own inexperience, and they put themselves in danger by failing to recognize their own limits. That makes life difficult for the hired guides and porters who work to ensure their clients’ safety. On Everest, those guides are typically members of the Sherpa community, an ethnic group that has gained a reputation for their expertise, strength and hospitality in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments. Most Western visitors wouldn’t dream of climbing Mount Everest without their help. [[nid:1273749]] “It’s hard for anyone to say they’ve climbed Everest alone,” Jenkins said. “These paying clients reach the summit on the backs of people who work hard for them. It’s different from other mountains where you might be doing everything for yourself; on Everest, on the standard route, the Sherpas are carrying your food, your tents and your oxygen up to the next camp.” For Sherpas, the recent increase in adventurers on Everest certainly has its downsides.

There is a greater demand for guidance, and that means more Sherpas are on the mountain at risk of injury or death. The traffic also leads to an increase in littering and pollution in Khumbu Valley. But most Sherpa guides, porters, hotel owners and equipment purveyors aren’t complaining -- tourism has been a huge boon to local economies. The communities in the Khumbu Valley would be hard-pressed to find anything else approaching the level of revenue that Western climbers bring. Mingmar Lama, owner of Nepal Sherpa Treks Ltd, which is based in Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu, has certainly noticed the uptick. “A few days ago I was reading the news that there were more than 100 people at the summit on the same day,” he said. “That’s not normal. It’s funny; everybody is pushing to do the same thing. But it’s important that they have someone there to support them, so they don’t get disappointed after traveling thousands of miles to get here.” Nepal Sherpa Treks helps visitors arrange tours and treks all over the region; Mount Everest Base Camp is one of its popular destinations.

Lama and his staff help visitors with everything from itineraries to climbing gear; they have 100 to 150 clients annually. “The tourism certainly does help us. It’s our primary source of income, and it has been supporting the Sherpa community for the last 40 years.” [[nid:1273747]] The rest of Nepal’s economy is struggling with stagnation, mostly as a result of political instability. The country of 30 million has never fully recovered from a decade-long Maoist insurgency that ended in 2006. Today, about a quarter of the population lives in poverty, and income per capita stands around $750. There are dozens of ethnic groups in Nepal, speaking dozens of different languages. Most people work as subsistence farmers, and Sherpas are no exception -- potatoes, first brought from Europe (where they were brought from South America), have been a popular crop since the 1800s. But during the 20th century, those Sherpas who lived in the vicinity of the world’s tallest mountain used location to their advantage; they began doing business with visiting Westerners.

A Sherpa named Tenzing Norgay made the first successful ascent and return from the summit of Mount Everest along with Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand in 1953, and the rest is history. “Sherpas are one of the wealthiest ethnic groups in Nepal because of Western clients,” Jenkins said. “The last thing they want to see is Westerners stop coming to the Khumbu Valley.” So while professional mountaineers may disapprove of the less-experienced climbers who now clog the main route on Mount Everest, the Sherpas who have been working as guides have good reason to look on the bright side. “Because of all the people climbing, there’s a lot of media attention on Everest,” said Lama. “It ultimately helped to get more awareness about Nepal and trekking. Business has been good, and we are happy.” [[nid:1273751]] In the end, even Jenkins isn’t too concerned about the situation on Everest -- in part because he never plans to go back. “There are too many beautiful mountains that are unclimbed. I don’t need to go to Everest again,” he said. “It has the tallest peak, but for professional mountaineers the experience matters more than the summit.

Every time you climb a mountain, you learn a little bit more about your geography, yourself, your fears, your weaknesses and your strengths. You really want to learn about yourself in a progressive way.” Related Stories The Old Man (80) And The Mountain (Mount Everest) Those who are less experienced may continue to set their sights on this one peak; their journey will be slow, and their presence will be an eyesore. But even they can boast an amazing achievement if they make it back to base, and there is no question that Sherpa communities ultimately benefit from their presence. As long as these climbers are willing to take a chance on cheating death, the pull of the world’s highest peak is still strong -- even if Everest isn’t quite what it used to be. Facts About Mt. Everest Facts About Mt. Everest Tallest mountain in the world. Number of people to attempt to climb Mt. Everest: approximately 4,000. Number of people to successfully climb Mt. Everest: 660. Number of people who have died trying to climb Mt. Everest: 142. Height: 29,028 feet, or 5 and a half miles above sea level.

This is equivalent to the size of almost 20 Empire State Buildings. Location: part of the Himalaya mountain range; straddles border of Nepal and Tibet. Named for: Sir George Everest, a British surveyor-general of India. Age: approximately 60 million years old. Other names: called "Chomolungma" by Tibetans and Sherpas, which means "Mother Goddess of the Earth." Countries visible from the summit: Tibet, India, and Nepal. First to climb to summit: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953. Notable dates: 1921  Dalai Lama allows British reconnaissance party to visit Tibet and the northern side of Mt. Everest. 1924  British explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappear near the summit, along the Northeast Ridge. It is possible that they may have actually been the first to reach the summit, but they never returned. 1949  Nepal opens its borders, making access to the mountain's southern peak possible. 1953  Hillary and Norgay reach summit. 1963  First Americans reach the summit.

1989  First two women, both American, reach the summit. 1990  Sir Edmund Hillary's son, Peter, reaches summit. 1996  Eleven people die during spring expeditions.

Question: What ethnic group is famous for helping people to climb Mt. Everest?
Answer: Sherpas