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In April 2014, an avalanche claimed the lives of 16 Sherpas – mountain guides who assist climbers on Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.
This tragic accident has sparked debate, with Sherpas wanting to ban climbing to express their grief for their unfortunate colleagues, and the Nepalese government disagreeing with "closing" the mountain.
Sherpa is the name given to a minority ethnic group living in the Himalayas east of Nepal. Possessing a deep understanding of the Himalayan geography, Sherpas became skilled guides and invaluable assistants to mountaineers from the early days of exploring the Himalayas and conquering Mount Everest.
Photographer Navesh Chitrakar documented the lives of the Sherpa people on Mount Everest, offering some insight into the harsh conditions they endure.
The image shows a climber at an altitude of over 8,800m on the summit of Kala Patthar in the Solukhumbu region. Despite news of Sherpa guide deaths, the high cost of climbing, and the ever-present dangers, hundreds of people from various countries still flock to Everest, determined to conquer the summit.
However, recently, the Sherpas have shown their disapproval by going on strike, causing many climbers to abandon their journey.
When the British began their conquest of Mount Everest in the 20th century, they relied on Sherpas to guide them and carry all their luggage up the mountain.
Sherpas are always admired for their physical fitness, enthusiasm, and ability to work well in thin air. Helping tourists reach the summit of high mountains has become the Sherpa's main source of income.
This Lakpa Sherpa, now 42 years old, is a "carrier" who helps tourists secure climbing ropes, carry equipment, oxygen tanks, and food to the summit of Everest, and rescue those in danger while climbing.
Mountaineers are willing to spend $60,000 (approximately 1.2 billion VND) on the entire trip and pay the Sherpas around $2,000-$3,000 (approximately 40-60 million VND). Some Sherpas even start their own businesses or build hotels and guesthouses to serve tourists.
The image shows the tourists returning after reaching the main camp in Pheriche, at an altitude of 4,300m above sea level with Mount Thamserku in the distance. Without the help of Sherpas, these climbers would not have been able to reach the summit.
Although the Sherpas know the area like the back of their hand, many have lost their lives attempting to conquer Everest. Nima Doma's husband, Lakpa, tragically lost his life in an avalanche last April. In the photo, she is holding her daughter, and her parents-in-law are beside her in their home in Khumjung.
The avalanche became the most horrific accident in the history of Everest climbing. Besides Lakpa, another guide named Mingma Tenzing also lost his life in April, in addition to other serious injuries caused by the avalanche. It can be said that 2014 became the most tragic year in the history of Everest climbing.
Temba Sherpa (45 years old) has climbed Mount Everest seven times. He is currently climbing to clean the prayer stone at Khumjung. The majority of Sherpas are Buddhist.
Furthermore, they believe that both gods and demons exist in every forest, mountain, and cave. According to them, we need to show respect and reverence through rituals passed down from our ancestors since ancient times.
The photo shows 90-year-old Khunjung Sherpa sitting in front of his house in Namche. When he worked as a "carrier" carrying goods up the mountain for tourists, he only earned $0.09 USD per day (approximately 20,000 VND).
Sherpas are not only paid little for their efforts but also face disrespect from some climbers. Last April, the climbing community was shocked by news of a brawl between three Westerners and Sherpas.
According to investigations, these three tourists showed disrespect to the Sherpas and even ignored safety regulations while climbing the mountain. Sadly, being treated disrespectfully, exploited, and not paid by customers is becoming increasingly common and familiar to Sherpas.
A statue of Edmund Hillary is located on the grounds of Khumjung School, which he founded.
Edmund was known as the "Sherpa King," and he dedicated his life to the Sherpas by building schools and clinics and improving the living standards of the people there.
The image shows a Sherpa woman sitting by a window selling food and drinks to tourists visiting Namche in the Solukhumbu region.
The tourism industry has helped improve the lives of the Sherpa people. Many have even become accustomed to Western lifestyles, while others still maintain the way of life of their ancestors from centuries ago.
Kedar Rai and his son are carrying goods up to their shop in the Solukhumbu area. To this day, the Sherpa people still travel solely on foot, without relying on cars or any other means of transportation.
Lakpa Sherpa, the "carriers," stand before Mount Kongde, at an altitude of approximately 3,400 meters above sea level. Despite the difficult and potentially life-threatening nature of their work, the Sherpas diligently strive to earn a living for the betterment of their families.
Over the past decades, international organizations have made considerable efforts to improve the lives of the people in this region.
An organization was established to bring healthcare services and medicine to remote villages. In addition, hydroelectric power plants, schools, and hospitals were also built.
* This article uses reference materials from the following sources: Discovery News, The Guardian, Wikipedia...
