Mountaineering

The first expeditions to Everest at the beginning of the 20th century could not help but notice the remarkable resilience of the native Sherpas in withstanding high altitudes. Initially, they were used as porters to carry materials up the mountain, but later they became companions on the mountain itself. Perhaps the most famous Sherpa is Tenzing Norgay, who, together with Edmund Hillary, was the first to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Today, it is not uncommon for Sherpas to hold the international UIAGM mountain guide license. 

They have become not only high-altitude porters but also prominent mountaineers in their own right. The classic ascent route to Everest from the southern side is climbed and fixed every year exclusively by Sherpa climbers, known as the "Icefall Doctors." Until they have completed their work, no other ascents to the mountain are allowed. Elite Sherpas who accompany clients all the way to the summit earn around $5,000 to $6,000 for two months of the expedition, plus a special bonus for successfully getting a client to the top. 

Thanks to their assistance to tourists and commercial expeditions, and the enormous boom in tourism in their homeland, one of the poorest regions in the world has become an exceptionally prosperous community by Nepali standards. Solo Khumbu has experienced rapid development over the past two decades. The money from massive tourism is visible almost everywhere, and in tandem with it, the quality of tourist services throughout the region has risen.

A sherpa does not mean a carrier or porter

Sherpas originally started as porters for the first Himalayan expeditions, but today, the porters in the Khumbu Valley are mostly other ethnic groups from the lower areas of Solo Khumbu. The Sherpas themselves are primarily involved in the tourism business, working as guides, high-altitude porters for expeditions, hotel owners, or running restaurants and tea houses. Overall, the Sherpa valley of Khumbu has experienced massive growth and unprecedented wealth.

Religion

The Sherpas follow Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, primarily the Nyingma and Gelugpa schools, with the Dalai Lama being the main representative of the latter. Almost every village has a monastery (referred to as a gompa in Sherpa), and in every home, you will find Buddhist altars and photos of the Dalai Lama. The center of Buddhism in the Sherpa valley of Solo Khumbu is the Tengboche Monastery. It was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1934, then rebuilt, and eventually burned down in 1989 due to an electrical short. Four years later, it was rebuilt once again. It is a popular stop for expeditions, where climbers often visit before their dangerous ascent to perform a puja (a Buddhist ceremony) and ask for blessings from the spiritual leader of the monastery—the Lama. 

Throughout all Sherpa regions, there is no shortage of Buddhist elements such as stupas, chortens, and what are called mani walls—stone pathways inscribed with the mantra Om mani padme hum. Colorful Tibetan prayer flags with printed mantras are also ubiquitous. The wind carries the mantras, and with them, blessings to all beings. It is not uncommon to meet locals with ritual prayer wheels or with Buddhist versions of rosaries in hand, chanting mantras. These are not prayers in the traditional sense but more like well-wishes. However, this topic could fill an entire article on its own.