Nepal Now / Stories / Archive 2020
Everest On Break; Sherpas Usually Busy With Expedition Engage In Relief Work
Published· Stories
Seasons come and go, but there is nothing like Spring. For the Himalayan country Nepal and its
tourism industry, spring is much more important than any, as it is the season of Mt. Everest
expedition. This year’s spring is different as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a standstill to the
whole world, including the much-needed break for Everest. While Everest can finally breathe
this season, hundreds of national and international mountaineers are not able to pursue their
passion of climbing the peak and being atop Everest this spring.
Nepali Sherpa community regards Everest, known as Sagarmatha in Nepali and Qomolangma in
Chinese language, as God. Strong and brave Sherpas, who are termed as the backbone of
expeditions, are dependent upon mountains for livelihood. But this time, they are compelled to
be locked up inside their homes. However, their kindness and compassion have touched many
lives even during this crisis. Despite losing jobs and the only income source, they are determined
to support each other especially those less privileged.
Among many such helpful hands, Mr. Mingma Sherpa is one, the first person to successfully
summit 14 mountains of the world which are above 8,000 meters. Also the Chairman of Seven
Summit Treks, Mr. Sherpa has extended support to over 600 households during the ongoing
crisis.”We helped around 300 guides, porters, and mountain workers in Kathmandu who were facing a
tough time due to loss of income. We provided both cash and food materials as per their need.
Similarly, we helped other few hundred people who were stranded in Kathmandu from my home
district Sankhuwasabha,” he shares.
He believes one should not follow any religion to help each other, but it’s a sense of
responsibility. “You can say I am helping our Government in its efforts to support needy people.
I am very glad to be a helping hand for many, who have dedicated their lives to mountains.”
Mr. Sherpa, who scaled Everest in 2004, terms Everest as the diamond of the world. Over 1,500
national and foreign climbers have reached the top of the world through his company in the last
decade. Thus, he holds a special attachment with the mountain.”Everest will remain here
forever, so we will be waiting to see the foreign mountaineers next spring,”; Mr. Sherpa expresses
hope.
The first expedition of the 8,848 meters high mountain was made on May 29, 1953 by Edmund
Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. This year marks the 67th anniversary of first Everest ascent. Due
to the lockdown imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, there will
be no grand celebrations this year, unlike previous years. Mountaineers are of view that the
The government should honor climbers as they are the treasure of the country.
For 50-year-old Mr. Kami Rita Sherpa, the person with the highest number of Everest ascent
records, Everest is the recognition of Nepal. People know Nepal as the land of Everest, thus
Everest Day should be celebrated with special programs, he says. “We should recall the contribution of first climbers and pray for the peace of all departed souls.
Everest Day should be marked by giving respect to all the climbers and mountain workers,” Mr.
Sherpa remarks. “We can maintain social distancing and celebrate Everest.”
Mr. Sherpa believes that not just Everest but all mountains and trekking peaks should get enough
attention from the government. “Mountains are getting polluted by human activities, so its high
time to focus on cleanliness campaigns.
The Government should allocate more budget for cleanup campaigns, and private sector should come together in such noble cause.”
He is equally concerned by the carbon emission from different industries and factories across the
world which is impacting the pristine Himalayas. Mr. Sherpa suggests people of across the world
to consider climate change and its impacts and act responsibly.
Besides, the veteran climber is of view that the guides and porters should be encouraged time
and again so that they will contribute more to country’s mountaineering industry. He feels sad
that hundreds of people have been jobless this year but stresses that nothing is more important
than safety and life.”Mountain is still smiling there. I would like to request all the climbers not to feel sorry for not
being able to be in mountain this season. There is always next time,” Mr. Sherpa remarks.”For
now, stay safe. Once COVID-19 is over, we are ready to welcome you all, he appeals to the
international climbers.
Another record holder climber from Nepal shares a similar view. Mr. Mingma David Sherpa is
the youngest climber to climb all the 14 peaks above 8,000 meters.
Mr. Sherpa, who is the head of operations at Elite Himalayan Adventures, is saddened by the
loss of jobs in mountain industry due to pandemic this year. But he also terms this crisis period
as an opportunity to serve others from the fraternity in every way possible.
“;We have distributed cash and food materials to around 400 families since mid-April. Most of
them are families of guides and porters and needy people from districts like Taplejung, Dolakha,
Sankhuwasabha and Dolakha. We even arranged their health checkup in coordination with local
governments,” Sherpa informs. Their food relief included rice, cereal, cooking oil, sugar and salt.
“Our relief program is underway.”
The young climber, who started the career in mountain at the age of 19, has no looking back
since then. No matter how successful and popular he is today, he feels the struggles of other
young Sherpas and aspires to help them sustain in long run. Mr. Sherpa, who has climbed Everest for 6 times, three times each from Nepal and Tibet side, hopes the pandemic will be over
soon and he will be in mountains again.
Despite of losing of jobs and all the hardships in daily life, the Sherpa community of Nepal has
not lost optimism. They believe until Everest smiles, there is a shimmering hope in the world.