World-record-holding Draper man climbs Mount Everest to raise awareness for issues

SALT LAKE CITY — It's not your average business trip.

Watching his father leave on a quest to climb Mount Everest for a record 20th time, Tenjing says it never feels normal.

"It's always scary," he said.

His father, Draper resident Apa Sherpa, reached the top of the world for the 19th time last year, breaking his own record.

On Monday, he left for another two-month expedition to Everest, wrapped with traditional scarves for good luck.

While he said he still enjoys climbing after all the years, his reasons for climbing have less to do with records than with raising awareness for causes he believes in.

"Back home, there is no education, so I like to help," Apa said with a grin. "I just climb to help out my family here and my country there." Beyond education in Nepal, he has also promoted awareness about global climate change and the importance of Sherpa people in Everest's history.

Climbing as part of the Eco Everest Expedition through Asian Trekking, Apa helped remove 13,000 pounds of garbage from the peak last year. He said he hopes to continue to raise global awareness about the challenges facing his country.

Apa, who estimates his age at about 50, was born and raised in Thame, Nepal, which sits at an elevation of 12,500 feet. He moved to Utah in 2006 to provide better educational opportunities for his three children; a move facilitated by business partner Jerry Mika, also a Utah resident.

"His climbing is building the future," Mika said. "His kids will be the first in their family to have an education. His kids are all straight-A students. It's an amazing contribution to the community and the world."

In the off-season, Apa works for Salt Lake City-based Biomerics-Diamond Mold where he helps produce outdoor gear. He carries a carbon-fiber ice ax designed by the company, and his climbing is a win-win for him and his employer. Apa raises awareness about issues important to him, while his sponsors gain valuable publicity.

"In America, I can support my family and provide opportunities," he said.

Now, in creating the Apa Sherpa Foundation, he hopes to provide opportunities in Nepal.

Climbing with the son of the first Sherpa to top Mount Everest, Apa first reached the summit in 1990 and has reached the top every year except 1996 and 2001. He holds nine world records.

Mika said Apa's wife convinced him not to climb in 1996, a year that turned out to be the deadliest year ever on Everest.

Apa's success is an inspiration around the world, Mika said.

"He is the Michael Jordan of Nepal," he said. "He has climbed Everest more than any human. That's really something."

But for 24-year-old Tenjing, it's just another long wait for his dad's safe return.

e-mail: jsmith@desnews.com