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Three Sherpas of the Himalaya
By Jude Limburn Turner

There is a tendency to refer to any local Himalayan mountain guide or porter as a 'Sherpa', although they may not strictly belong to the Sherpa ethnic group. In Nepal at least, Sherpas often insist on distinguishing between themselves and general porters as they usually hold positions of greater authority and are more experienced, able mountaineers. If you aim to climb any Himalayan peaks or simply head off for an Everest Base Camp trek, you will see why they are so respected and will doubtless hear tell of their famous predecessors. Here are three such men.

Tenzing Norgay

Controversially, Norgay may not even have been born a Sherpa. Though he claimed so in an early autobiography, later research has revealed that he was likely born in Tibet and forced into bonded servitude to a Sherpa family when his own was left destitute by disaster. Regardless of his origins, Norgay's achievement, alongside Hillary, or being the first men to summit Everest on the 29th of May, 1953 is regarded as one of the greatest achievements not only in the field of mountaineering, but in human history.

A modest man, he famously responded to the insistent questioning of journalists keen to know every detail of the ascent, "If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to live with this shame." He passed away in India in 1986.

His name, Tenzing, derives from the name 'Tibet', meaning 'Equilibrium in all its essence'.

Appa Sherpa

A regular face at Everest Base Camp, trekking, guiding and climbing, Appa is famed for having ascended the 8,848m peak 18 times. Appa shares his hometown of Thame with Tenzing Norgay and, like many Sherpa, is unsure of his date of birth. His best estimate places him in his early 40's.

Famed at a young age for his strength (despite his small frame), optimism and level-headedness, Appa has received three medals of commendation from the Royal family of Nepal and is regarded by many mountaineers as being one of the finest climbing professionals alive today. His simple philosophy that 'Everest will always be there' could doubtless have saved many foreign lives as many visitors to the Himalaya constrain themselves to one life-altering attempt at the mountains; an approach that dangerously warps a climber's judgement.

Despite his incredible achievements in his homeland, Appa now lives in the U.S.A. and claims that he would give up his world records for his childhood dream of becoming a medical doctor.

Babu Chhiri Sherpa

Though his speed ascent of the world's highest mountain, at 16hrs, 56 minutes, was later overtaken and beaten by Pemba Dorije and Lhakpa Gelu, Babu Chhiri is famous for a phenomenal feat of endurance that ensures his legacy in the lore of Everest Base Camp.

In May 1999 Babu Chhiri spent 21hrs on the summit of Everest without the aid of supplementary oxygen, he even managed to sleep at such a terrific altitude.

He died on Everest in 2001, falling into a hidden crevasse near Camp 2 while guiding a team of climbers. Before his death he is reported as having told an interviewer,

"The view is beautiful from the top of the world. Everest is like a friend; Everest is God."

Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have provided Everest base camp trekking holidays for over 20 years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.

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