Who are the Sherpas?
The Sherpas are one of the original mountain people of Nepal. Most Sherpas live in the eastern region of the country known as Solu, Khumbu, and Pharak. However, some live farther west in the Rolwaling valley and in the Helambu region north of Katmandu. Pangboche is the Sherpa’s oldest village in Nepal and is estimated to have been built over 300 years ago. Sherpas speak a Tibetan dialect, and traditionally are traders and farmers cultivating high altitude fields of potatoes, barley, wheat, and buckwheat. If they live within a day’s walk of Namche Bazaar, some will raise water buffalo and slaughter them for the Saturday market in Namche. Today, Sherpas are renowned in the global climbing and mountaineering community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience at high altitudes. In Nepal, Sherpas often insist on making a distinction between themselves and general porters, as they generally serve in a more guide-like role and command higher pay, as well as greater respect from the comm
