Buzz
At 40 years old, Karma has conquered Everest 15 times, yet only successfully reached its summit 7 times. Over the past 18 years, he has tirelessly worked by carrying equipment and guiding international mountaineers to raise funds to fulfill his long-held dream.
'I want to open a tea house,' the man chuckled. 'There used to be none here. I dreamt of it, and now the dream has become reality.'
In Nepal's struggling economy, Karma's ability to afford opening even a small tea house on Everest is truly a rare success. However, any success comes with sacrifices. For Karma, it's risking his life as a Sherpa, guiding mountain climbers in harsh weather conditions.
During the historic 2015 avalanche, Karma was also at Base Camp on the day 22 climbers lost their lives. It haunts him. Yet, tourists worldwide still seek Karma's support for mountaineering. 'Many tourists tell me they've paid a lot to come here, so they must summit. I refuse because too many have died there,' he said.
Yet Karma must return to his old job out of necessity. For him and other Sherpas, it's not just a job; it's also a livelihood to support their families and pursue their dreams.
Karma admits he loves mountaineering and adventure. It's in his blood. His father, a renowned mountaineer, passed down all the tricks of the trade. He's also done the same with his two sons—kindred spirits. But his family isn't pleased; they fear for his safety. This job is very dangerous.
Over his 20-year mountaineering career, he has witnessed over 10 tourist deaths and lost many friends in the quest for summits.
Dinesh, guide of Danielle's group, also shares a similar story. He once led a group preparing to climb Everest when the historic earthquake in Nepal struck, halting the journey. He lost contact with loved ones all day.
'I can understand his feelings. It's a terrible feeling not being able to connect with loved ones, having no idea what's happening where you are, or how many people have died.
Additional Information:
Currently, Trekking Nepal offers 4 popular trekking routes:
Annapurna Base Camp Trek: 10-13 days tour, reference price: $500 - $700.
Annapurna Circuit Trek: 15-day tour, approximate price: $900.
Poon Hill Trek: 9-day tour, approximate price: $500
Everest Base Camp Trek: 13-day tour, approximate price: $1,000.
The prices for the mentioned tours include transportation, accommodation in Nepal, and hiring guides and sherpas for mountain climbing, excluding airfare and tipping money.
Teahouse trekking is considered the easiest method of mountaineering by many and is also preferred by many tourists because it doesn't require climbers to worry about much. Tourists don't need to prepare tents, water, or food as they can purchase them along the way. At night, you can stay at teahouses—tourist accommodation areas, which nowadays are equipped with modern facilities and services such as hot showers, diverse food, beer, tea, etc.
Mountaineers using this method don't demand rigorous physical requirements.
According to Anh Minh/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJune 23, 2017
