| There is a tendency to refer to any local Himalayan | | | | hometown of Thame with Tenzing Norgay and, like |
| mountain guide or porter as a 'Sherpa', although they | | | | many Sherpa, is unsure of his date of birth. His best |
| may not strictly belong to the Sherpa ethnic group. In | | | | estimate places him in his early 40's. |
| Nepal at least, Sherpas often insist on distinguishing | | | | Famed at a young age for his strength (despite his |
| between themselves and general porters as they | | | | small frame), optimism and level-headedness, Appa |
| usually hold positions of greater authority and are | | | | has received three medals of commendation from |
| more experienced, able mountaineers. If you aim to | | | | the Royal family of Nepal and is regarded by many |
| climb any Himalayan peaks or simply head off for an | | | | mountaineers as being one of the finest climbing |
| Everest Base Camp trek, you will see why they are | | | | professionals alive today. His simple philosophy that |
| so respected and will doubtless hear tell of their | | | | 'Everest will always be there' could doubtless have |
| famous predecessors. Here are three such men. | | | | saved many foreign lives as many visitors to the |
| Tenzing Norgay | | | | Himalaya constrain themselves to one life-altering |
| Controversially, Norgay may not even have been | | | | attempt at the mountains; an approach that |
| born a Sherpa. Though he claimed so in an early | | | | dangerously warps a climber's judgement. |
| autobiography, later research has revealed that he | | | | Despite his incredible achievements in his homeland, |
| was likely born in Tibet and forced into bonded | | | | Appa now lives in the U.S.A. and claims that he would |
| servitude to a Sherpa family when his own was left | | | | give up his world records for his childhood dream of |
| destitute by disaster. Regardless of his origins, | | | | becoming a medical doctor. |
| Norgay's achievement, alongside Hillary, or being the | | | | Babu Chhiri Sherpa |
| first men to summit Everest on the 29th of May, | | | | Though his speed ascent of the world's highest |
| 1953 is regarded as one of the greatest | | | | mountain, at 16hrs, 56 minutes, was later overtaken |
| achievements not only in the field of mountaineering, | | | | and beaten by Pemba Dorije and Lhakpa Gelu, Babu |
| but in human history. | | | | Chhiri is famous for a phenomenal feat of endurance |
| A modest man, he famously responded to the | | | | that ensures his legacy in the lore of Everest Base |
| insistent questioning of journalists keen to know | | | | Camp. |
| every detail of the ascent, "If it is a shame to be the | | | | In May 1999 Babu Chhiri spent 21hrs on the summit |
| second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to | | | | of Everest without the aid of supplementary oxygen, |
| live with this shame." He passed away in India in 1986. | | | | he even managed to sleep at such a terrific altitude. |
| His name, Tenzing, derives from the name 'Tibet', | | | | He died on Everest in 2001, falling into a hidden |
| meaning 'Equilibrium in all its essence'. | | | | crevasse near Camp 2 while guiding a team of |
| Appa Sherpa | | | | climbers. Before his death he is reported as having |
| A regular face at Everest Base Camp, trekking, | | | | told an interviewer, |
| guiding and climbing, Appa is famed for having | | | | "The view is beautiful from the top of the world. |
| ascended the 8,848m peak 18 times. Appa shares his | | | | Everest is like a friend; Everest is God. |