THE SHERPAS

The hill people of Nepal are some of the most friendly, generous and tough people on earth, but their lot is a hard one, living at high altitude, with small resources. Sir Edmund, with his own hands and with the eager involvement of the Sherpas, set out to create schools, hospitals, health centres, new forest plantations and limiting environmental damage.

The noun Sherpa does not mean mountaineer, guide or porter, but is the name of a race of people. Tibetan in origin, they inhabit the southern flanks of the Himalayan range in north-east Nepal. Few who visit them can remain indifferent to their loyalty, affection and charm or be unimpressed by their remarkable toughness and courage.

Sherpa language is a dialect of Tibetan; their customs and dress are basically Tibetan and their religion Buddhist.

Potatoes are the basic crop of the Sherpas and they rear Yak in Alpine pastures up to a height of 17000 ft.

Deforestation, much of it due to the growth of tourism, is a major problem, it results in the loss of topsoil, threatening crops and contributing to flooding downstream.

Many of their basic needs, such as foodstuffs, building materials and medical supplies, have to be carried for many days over wild terrain on a man’s back – this work is also undertaken by women.

Some Sherpa children, eager for education, walk for two hours a day each way to attend school.

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