Sherpa climbs Everest in order to help save it
After completing his record 18th summit of Mount Everest, though, his perspective has changed. Now, the Draper resident and record-setting mountaineering star is climbing to save Everest.
"Before, when I lived in Nepal, I did it to support my family," Sherpa said. "Now, we are here and I have my company. When I climb, I do it to support Nepal and help my people, my mountains."
A few years ago Sherpa brought his family to Utah where they live with a friend and business partner — "I want them to have education. Education is number one for us" — but his heart still takes him back to his homeland and the mountain he knows so well.
When he returns now, though, it is not with the sole purpose of guiding wealthy westerners with a thirst for adventure to the top of the world's tallest peak. Now, with a broader perspective, he climbs to restore the mountain to its natural state.
"We need to try to clean it up every year if we can," Sherpa said a couple of weeks ago at a welcome-home gathering. "When I take people up, everything they take, when they come down, they have to bring their own bag (of waste) down."
"In Nepal," he said, "they didn't know anything about global warming or pollution. Now they are more aware, and the government, they are getting smart. There's nobody messing up the mountain."
Now safely back on flat ground in Utah, Sherpa will turn his attention to education. He has a meeting with the Granite School District this month, where he will try to schedule appearances for assemblies with students. Eventually he would like to take his educational speeches nationwide in an effort to increase awareness of his mountain.
"I hope the younger generation follows (our example) in the future," Sherpa said.
His days climbing Everest as the world's foremost mountaineer may be behind him in some regards. But he hopes his celebrity — no matter how large or small it is — will help preserve his native land.
The mountain is as popular now as it ever has been. Each year, Sherpa said, it seems more and more groups are making expeditions to the top or some other point as westerners seek a new thrill. One thing Sherpa said is important for any climber, no matter how experienced, is to prepare properly.
For most, this takes years of climbing and training. You simply do not show up at base camp and ascend Everest any more than you hop off your couch for the first time in years and run a marathon.
Recent comments
no. Garbage is garbage. Trash is trash. Pollution is pollution. Anonymous | June 26, 2008 at 12:08 p.m.
Oh, now Global warming is being caused by garbage on Mt Everest?<...
Craig | June 26, 2008 at 10:48 a.m.
