Who are the Sherpa?
The Sherpa are a group of Tibetans who migrated across the Himalayans into Nepal around 1500 CE. Their oldest settlement is Pangboche, which is believed to have been built in the 1700s. They are well adapted to the demands of high altitude living, and their familiarity with the Himalayan Mountains led to their adoption by the mountaineering community as guides. When referring to a guide, “sherpa” is not capitalized, to distinguish the ethnic group from the profession. Sherpas who also act as guides are in high demand, especially for Everest expeditions. The word comes from the Tibetan shar meaning “East” and pa, which means “people.” The Sherpa or Sharpa are “people from the East” since they traveled over the mountains to settle in Nepal. A male member of the group is called a Sherpa, while a woman is a Sherpani. Many Sherpa are Buddhist, probably bringing the religion over with them from Tibet. They live as farmers and cattle breeders, and also spin and weave wool. Physically, the She
