The Sherpa Legacy: How the World's Greatest Mountain People Built Himalayan Climbing¶

The Sherpa people of Nepal's Khumbu Valley have been the backbone of Himalayan expeditions for a century. This guide moves beyond the "helpful porter" stereotype to explore Sherpa culture, the dangerous labor economy, Kami Rita Sherpa's record 30 Everest summits, and the evolving relationship between Western climbers and Sherpa mountaineers.

Introduction¶

Sherpa — An Ethnicity, Not a Job Title¶

Origins and Culture¶

The Khumbu Valley¶

Spiritual Relationship with Mountains¶

Physical Adaptation to Altitude¶

The Birth of Expedition Work¶

Early British Expeditions¶

Tenzing Norgay and Global Recognition¶

Record-Setting Sherpa Climbers¶

Kami Rita Sherpa — 30 Everest Summits¶

Pasang Dawa Sherpa¶

Ang Tshering Sherpa¶

The Dangerous Labor Economy¶

Death Rates Among Icefall Doctors¶

Compensation and Insurance¶

The 2014 Icefall Disaster and Strike¶

Evolving Relationships¶

Sherpa-Led Expeditions¶

Shifting Power Dynamics¶

Tourism and the Khumbu Economy¶

The Future of Sherpa Mountaineering¶