Khumjung

We started out our “rest and acclimatization” day today at nine a.m. with a hike to a nearby (and well guarded) museum which provided an in depth history of the Everest region along with a detailed look into the life and culture of the Sherpa people.

Namche Bazaar from above. (Photo by James McKinney)

You may notice that in the previous sentence the “S” in Sherpa is capitalized. This is in accordance with the word as a noun referring to such a proud, passionate, and professional people. The Sherpa people are from the Everest region and have long been known as pioneers of the high altitude boundaries for carrying immense loads of supplies up and down mountains, and for guiding climbers up Jomolungma (Mt. Everest) herself. A misconception of the Sherpa people in today’s society is that their roles in this mountainous world have remained unchanged. However, the Sherpa people have ascended socio-economically and are now well established as mountain guides, hotel managers, doctors, businessmen, and hold a myriad of other professional positions. As the Sherpa people moved up into management and professional positions, there was an essential gap in this touristic mountain society that was left open in the form of porters and trekking guides. This labor gap has since been filled by the Rai people who reside to the east.

The Sherpa village of Khumjung. (Photo by James McKinney)

Continuing on from the Museum we began a step-by-step-by-vertical-step ascent into the mystical fog that sat heavily over the town of Naamche. We were headed up towards Khumjung, the next town on the route to Everest base camp.

Khumjung is a small town situated at an elevation of 3780 meters in a valley above Naamche. It was here that Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the original mountaineers to climb Everest, built the first school for the Sherpa people of the area. This was the first school to be build in a string of 63 such facilities that are continued to be supported by the Himalayan Trust organization. Much of the work and support for the institutions facilitated by Ed Hillary came from the Sherpa people and more specifically, Ang Rita’s father and family. Mingma Sherpa, Ang Rita’s father, was Sir Ed. Hillary’s close personal friend and expedition facilitator. Mingma also aided Ed Hillary in many of his exploits, specifically helping in the construction of 21 of the Sherpa schools and the Khunde hospital.

A statue of Sir Edmund Himary within the Khumjung school grounds. (Photo by James McKinney)

Tomorrow the expedition will continue on to the town of Tengboche and the collage of cultures will continue to share ideas and formulate solutions to the problems of this region.

- James