Aaron Huey

SHERPAS (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE)

Coming this Fall! 

  • Lakpa Sherpa, co-owner of the Himalayan Ascent Expedition Company is a successful business owner and one of the best rope fixers/climbers on the mountain.
  • The village of Phortse has more Everest summiters than any other place in the world. Over 60 people have reached the summit of the mountain from this one town, and nearly every household makes its living working on climbing expeditions.
  • Rice is given out as a snack at the the beginning of the rice distribution at the Dumji Festival. The Dumji Festival celebrates and honors the anniversary of Guru Rinpoche birth on the lotus flower. Lama Sangwa Dorji is the founder of the earliest monastery of Khumbu and he was the first to start the Dumji festival in Pangboche about 360 years ago in order to coincide with the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche.
  • Climbers are lead through the icefall below Island Peak by an experienced Sherpa guide. Many climbers on these expeditions have little of no experience with ropes or big mountain gear. They rely on Sherpas for safe passge.
  • Sonam Dorji Sherpa a climbing Sherpa from Phortse working for IMG carries some of the last loads down from Everest at the end of the 2012 season.
  • Ama Dablam Camp 2, at over 21,000ft.
  • Lakpa Sherpa, co-owner of the Himalayan Ascent Expedition Company is a successful business owner and one of the best rope fixers/climbers on the mountain. In these images he is {quote}fixing{quote} rope (anchoring safety ropes) between camp 1 and 2 to replace dangerous ropes left from last year. Without the fixed ropes none of the commercial groups can climb.
  • IMG (International Mountain Guides) climbing sherpas getting paid for the season on their last day at Everest Base Camp
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  • Sonam Dendu from Kumjung guiding for Thamserku Trekking leads Spanish clients on Island Peak (20,000 ft peak).
  • Danuru (orange helmet) and Panuru Sherpa move between camp 1 and Camp 2 at the top of teh Yellow Tower on Ama Dablam on fixed lines
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  • Sherpas from the Himalayan Ascent team serve breakfast to clients in their tents at Camp 1 on Ama Dablam.
  • IMG (International mountain Guides) company tearing down camp on their last day at Base Camp
  • Climbing Sherpas huddle together in a mess tent to decide who will make the last runs across the Khumbu Ice Fall to collect the gear from Camp 2, 3, and 4, and also who will attempt a body rescue just below the summit.
  • Urgin Sherpa age 22 from Dolagha (near China border) has worked 3 years in the mountains. He summited Everest once, last year, but this year is working in the kitchen of the Japanese Camp. He traveled through the Ice Fall to take orange juice to his friends and his cousin who were on their way down after completing the dangerous and tiring crossing. He then took his cousin's load and carried it himself.
  • Urgin Sherpa age 22 from Dolagha (near China border) has worked 3 years in the mountains. He summited Everest once, last year, but this year is working in the kitchen of the Japanese Camp. He traveled through the Ice Fall to take orange juice to his friends and his cousin who were on their way down after completing the dangerous and tiring crossing. He then took his cousin's load and carried it himself.
  • Climbing Sherpas return down the Khumbu Ice Fall after gathering the last gear at Camp 2.
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  • Namche Bazar Saturday Market
  • A volleyball game in Phortse between a team of Everest Summiters and a team of porters. Games are often played with all Sherpa who work on everest.
  • Karma Tsiring Sherpa, Phortse. Worked on a Hillary expedition and several projects after in the 60s and 70s.
  • Danuru Sherpa on his iPhone with photos of his wife and daughters behind him as well as a summit photo from Everest. His mother Daki Sherpa (age 79) looks in from the kitchen, She has had 8 sons work on the mountain. 5 are still alive
  • Nima Doma Sherpa lost her husband Da Rita Sherpa this year when he died of heart failure at Camp 3 on Everest. He leaves behind a 2 year old and a 3 year old child and considerable debt.
  • Nyima Doma's Family gives money and Katas to the monks overseeing the Dumji Festival. Nyima nd her husband (Da Rita Sherpa) were supposed to be organizers for the festival this year but he died at Camp 3 on Everest of heart failure while working for IMG. In his place his father and mother (Phu Dorji and Phura Yangji (mother) and Nyima's brother (Ang Chuldim) are helping with the work. It is an emotional day for the 4, as they are honored with Katas (honor scarves) from the community.
  • Welcoming of a senior Lama from Tanboche Monastary who will lead the ceremony of Dumji in Phortse village. Most male participans also work for commercial outfitters on mountains like Everest, Amadablam, etc.
  • Organizers (eldest males from the 6 families) of the Dumji Festival do the {quote}opening ceremony{quote} in which they take prayer flags (white) and chang to a high puja altar for the God of the Khumbu (Kumbuyula). The flags and juniper branch are tied to the altar.
  • Kathmandu Secondary School. Many Sherpa climbers send their children to Kathmandu to this school as soon as they save enough money. Many students live here in the dormitory, while their parents live in the mountains.
  • Hillary's portrait in a parade at the 50th Anniversary of the Thame Lower Secondary School (a Hillary School)
  • Sherpa children from the village of Phortse now go to school in Kathmandu because of their fathers' increased income guiding in the mountains.
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