Table of Contents
- From Poverty to the Roof of the World
- The Historic 1953 Everest Expedition
- A Quiet Hero’s Legacy
- Warnings About Everest’s Future
- Sources
From Poverty to the Roof of the World
Kanchha Sherpa didn’t dream of scaling Mount Everest. In fact, he never even thought about mountaineering—until life forced his hand.
Born in 1933 in Namche, Nepal (though he never knew his exact birth date), Kanchha walked five grueling days to Darjeeling, India, in 1952 just to find work to feed his family. That desperate journey would unexpectedly lead him to become part of one of the most historic moments in exploration history.
The Historic 1953 Everest Expedition
In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal, became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. But they didn’t do it alone.
Kanchha Sherpa was among the 35 climbers and hundreds of porters who formed the backbone of the expedition. Carrying 60 pounds of gear, fixing ropes, and scouting trails in brutal conditions—thin air, freezing winds, and treacherous terrain—he helped pave the way for the iconic summit.
Though he didn’t reach the peak himself (his role, like many Sherpas, was support, not summiting), Kanchha made it to the final base camp. When news crackled over the radio that Hillary and Norgay had succeeded, he later recalled: “We danced, hugged and kissed. It was a moment of pure joy.”
Why Sherpas Are the Unsung Heroes of Everest
While Hillary and Norgay received global acclaim, the Sherpa community’s contributions have often been overlooked. These high-altitude experts are the true enablers of Everest climbs—handling logistics, carrying loads, and risking their lives in avalanches and storms.
A Quiet Hero’s Legacy
Kanchha continued climbing Everest until 1970, when a deadly avalanche prompted his wife, Ang Lhakpa Sherpa, to beg him to stop. He then shifted to guiding trekkers on safer Himalayan routes through a local trekking company.
He outlived both Tenzing Norgay (d. 1986) and Sir Edmund Hillary (d. 2008), becoming the last surviving member of the original 1953 team. His passing on October 16, 2025, at age 92, marks the end of a living connection to mountaineering’s most legendary achievement.
Kanchha is survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Warnings About Everest’s Future
In later years, Kanchha voiced deep concern about the environmental toll of mass tourism on Everest. “If we stop the tourists to save the mountains, we don’t have anything to do. Just grow potatoes and eat and sit,” he told Climate Wire in 2011—a poignant reflection on the tension between livelihood and conservation.
His words echo today as Nepal grapples with overcrowding, waste, and safety issues on the world’s highest peak.
