Renowned mountaineer and guide Pasang Namgel Sherpa received a special welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport after his successful ascent of Broad Peak. Sherpa, who hails from Khumbu Rural Municipality, was greeted by Rakesh Gurung, Director of the Department of Tourism; Thakurraj Pandey, Senior Vice President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association; and officials from Imagine Nepal Treks Company.
Sherpa achieved a remarkable feat by summiting Broad Peak, the 12th highest mountain in the world located in Pakistan, twice in this climbing season. His accomplishment adds to his illustrious career, having now successfully scaled all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks.
In addition to the airport reception, a special program was held in honor of Sherpa, where Senior Vice President Pandey of the Nepal Mountaineering Association emphasized the need to establish a welfare fund for climbers. He urged for collective support and cooperation in creating policies to support this initiative, stating, “The Sherpa community has played a pivotal role in making Nepal known to the world. It is a matter of pride that Pasang Namgel Sherpa has become Nepal’s first mountaineer to summit Yalung Kang.”
Director Gurung of the Department of Tourism highlighted the intrinsic connection between the mountains and the Sherpa community. He warned that without the establishment of a welfare fund, there is a growing risk of Sherpas seeking opportunities abroad. Gurung also underscored the threat of pollution to the mountains’ very existence, advocating for the creation of a dedicated cleaning fund.
Pasang Namgel Sherpa, who is now 52 years old, has an extensive mountaineering career, having summited multiple 8,000-meter peaks. In 2004 and 2007, he successfully climbed both Yalung Kang and Lhotse Shar. With his latest achievement, Sherpa has now summited a total of 16 peaks above 8,000 meters, including Yalung Kang and Lhotse Shar. This remarkable accomplishment makes him the second person after Korea’s Um Hong-gil to achieve this feat and the first from Nepal to do so.
Sherpa’s contributions to mountaineering not only bring pride to Nepal but also emphasize the enduring legacy and unmatched skills of the Sherpa community in the world of high-altitude climbing.
