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A Sherpa’s Final Moments A Sherpa’s Final Moments
(about 3 hours later)
NEW DELHI — The Sherpas setting off up the Khumbu Icefall on the morning of April 18th were young, strong, healthy men. They were also, it is clear from the video that one of them shot that morning, a little nervous. NEW DELHI — The Sherpas setting off up the Khumbu Icefall on the morning of April 18 were young, strong, healthy men. They were also, it is clear from the video that one of them shot that morning, a little nervous.
When they move forward, you can see why: Heavy, clanking loads are strapped to their backs, and they are waiting in line to climb a ladder, inching their way up an ice field known to be one of the most dangerous places on Mount Everest, under a “hanging glacier” that mountaineers have been eyeing anxiously for years.When they move forward, you can see why: Heavy, clanking loads are strapped to their backs, and they are waiting in line to climb a ladder, inching their way up an ice field known to be one of the most dangerous places on Mount Everest, under a “hanging glacier” that mountaineers have been eyeing anxiously for years.
“Are you happy?” Ang Kaji Sherpa asked his friend. His friend’s responding laugh is not happy; it has an edge to it. Then Ang Kaji turns his viewfinder to the mountain peaks, blindingly white as light from the rising sun slides down them.“Are you happy?” Ang Kaji Sherpa asked his friend. His friend’s responding laugh is not happy; it has an edge to it. Then Ang Kaji turns his viewfinder to the mountain peaks, blindingly white as light from the rising sun slides down them.
Nearly all of the men in the video would be killed around 30 minutes later, their bodies smashed under house-sized chunks of ice that broke loose from the glacier and barreled down the ice field.Nearly all of the men in the video would be killed around 30 minutes later, their bodies smashed under house-sized chunks of ice that broke loose from the glacier and barreled down the ice field.
Last month’s disaster set off a reassessment of the labor contract at the center of the Everest tourist industry, in which Sherpas, who are mostly members of a small ethnic group renowned for its mountaineering skills, receive extra pay (high by Nepali standards, not by Western ones) in exchange for incurring extra risk to their lives.Last month’s disaster set off a reassessment of the labor contract at the center of the Everest tourist industry, in which Sherpas, who are mostly members of a small ethnic group renowned for its mountaineering skills, receive extra pay (high by Nepali standards, not by Western ones) in exchange for incurring extra risk to their lives.
When Sherpa leaders at the mountain’s base camp first called for a moratorium on climbing, experienced Everest-watchers from the West shrugged it off, confident that the season would simply continue after a few days of mourning. The costs were simply too enormous. Some 300 international mountain climbers had already gathered at the base camp, having spent as much as $100,000 for a chance at reaching the summit.When Sherpa leaders at the mountain’s base camp first called for a moratorium on climbing, experienced Everest-watchers from the West shrugged it off, confident that the season would simply continue after a few days of mourning. The costs were simply too enormous. Some 300 international mountain climbers had already gathered at the base camp, having spent as much as $100,000 for a chance at reaching the summit.
But they were dead wrong. Tensions between Sherpas and Nepal’s government boiled over when state officials offered a compensation package of just $400 to the families of the dead men. Fury intermingled with grief, and the base camp became a welter of rumor. Many foreigners became convinced that violence would ensue if they attempted to continue with an expedition, and they turned around — some resentful, some contemplative — and headed home. A handful of expeditions now remain at the mountain’s base camp, but their chances of making the ascent look slim.But they were dead wrong. Tensions between Sherpas and Nepal’s government boiled over when state officials offered a compensation package of just $400 to the families of the dead men. Fury intermingled with grief, and the base camp became a welter of rumor. Many foreigners became convinced that violence would ensue if they attempted to continue with an expedition, and they turned around — some resentful, some contemplative — and headed home. A handful of expeditions now remain at the mountain’s base camp, but their chances of making the ascent look slim.
Only time will tell whether this confrontation will result in improved conditions for Everest’s Sherpas. The question is a remote one for Chhechi, the 18-year-old daughter of Ang Kaji Sherpa, who, after his death, looked half-empty with grief over his loss, as if she couldn’t get enough air. She played that video clip over and over, listening as father tried to encourage his friend. “You should be happy,” he says in the video. Then he turned off the camera and both men went forward to meet their fate.Only time will tell whether this confrontation will result in improved conditions for Everest’s Sherpas. The question is a remote one for Chhechi, the 18-year-old daughter of Ang Kaji Sherpa, who, after his death, looked half-empty with grief over his loss, as if she couldn’t get enough air. She played that video clip over and over, listening as father tried to encourage his friend. “You should be happy,” he says in the video. Then he turned off the camera and both men went forward to meet their fate.