We’re excited to bring you part one of our four-part series about Mount Everest! Leave a comment below: Where would you like to see Business Insider go next?
Tahiti? African Safaris perhaps (there may be many issues with these?)? Fishermen? Arctic (research teams, locals, Eskimos)?, North Korea would be interesting but... difficult to show the truth. Great episode today, thank you. The human struggle is the most interesting.
Brilliant show. Thanks. MS Hans Hedtoft?? What would a colony need on Mars?? Nepal should charge $50 000 a ticket. Make the same money with less people or enforce sherpa use...then charge $100 000 a ticket. 50% non refundable deposit for booking. More money, less pollution and well paid Sherpas. ;)
Life in/on the DMZ between the Koreas. From soldiers and the everyday people who live next to it. (As someone who lives in Seoul, this is of great interest to everyone outside of Korea)
I would like to see K2 Mountain in Asia being covered. That is another mountain that is dangerous to climb as well. At least that is what I read. If you are done with mountains, I would like Business Insider to cover the national dog show. I don't see any animal news or videos related to Business Insider. It would be nice for a change. Like what goes on behind the scenes. How does one enter their dog. The rules involved. How are dogs selected.
I went to a corporate event a while back and there was a motivational speaker who had 'climbed Everest'. While he spoke I realized that this was by far his only 'accomplishment', and in reality he had invested $60,000 into an Everest climbing expedition to parley into a motivational speaking gig. He wasn't a climber with a story to tell, he just paid to go. We don't need more people climbing Everest for that.
Yeah, recently I've seen them pictures of the queues to get up there. I just thought they were all a bunch of losers, what does it feel like being in a queue to get up there. Surrounded by an ocean of mountains, all impressively massive, solitude and adventure in every direction...but, nah, not good enough, I want the one that everyone will know is the best, because it's not really about conquering something, being on an adventure and seeing something amazing in the world, it's about telling people you've done this stuff. Losers.
6:08 What needs to be mentioned is that a rescue mission can be potentially career ending for the guide as well. I know a Sherpa who carried 2 injured climbers on his shoulders off a mountain (not Everest) and injured his own shoulders in the process. He could no longer be an expedition guide as his shoulders can no longer carry heavy loads. Not to mention the very real and high risk of death
@@oriconceptarts3233you’re a dumbass if you think any Sherpa guide would intentionally risk the lives of the climbers and also risk their own life having to successfully complete the rescue for some extra money
I keep getting recommended videos of rich people talking about Everest. This is the only Everest video I care to watch. RIP to every Sherpa who gave their life so wealthy tourists could get their fix, post on the internet, become motivational speakers, etc. Summiting Everest has become such a soulless endeavor.
6:18 the rescued hiker is from Malaysia and one of the most ungrateful person. He returned to his country and thanked his sponsor instead of the Sherpa(who had to convince his client to cancel their hike to save this hiker), He even went so far to block this Sherpa from his Instagram. Once news of this came to light, he turned from a national hero to an embarrassment for the nation.
@@donbernie9346 Found him. Ravichandran Tharumalingam. apparently he's using Everest as his middle name on LinkedIn and running a company related to moutaineering. lol
I had a phase when I binge-watched mountaineering disaster videos and Everest videos, and I think this video is the first one to actually include the Sherpas that perished in the overall Everest death toll.
I've been watching a lot of these videos lately, but this one made me cry. Without the Sherpas, it's nearly impossible to climb that mountain. That's why I was never amused and couldn't understand why countries celebrate the people who summits Everest. The government SHOULD have a special holiday for these guides to celebrate them, SHOULD provide health benefits, SHOULD provide insurance and financial assistance for their families. They should price the permits at $50,000 so they'll be able to provide these, at least, and to limit the number of hikers and trash on the mountain.
Raising the price won’t change anything. People pay upwards of $200,000 U.S. to climb Everest but they’re paying it to western expedition companies, and they pay the Sherpa’s squat. It may eliminate a few hikers but that’s it. A wealthier hiker will soon take their place. They need to stop westerners from operating these businesses in Nepal and area and only allow Nepalese people to do it. People are literally and figuratively getting rich off the backs of the Sherpa people, except the Sherpa’s. Maybe tickets should only be available through a Sherpa, and no one else.
Is it me or does an increase of the climb fee to $15k doesn't sound like it is going to make a dent to solve the problems of overcrowding and paying the sherpas?
I remember a few years ago while working at a private school in the UK, we had a former pupil come and speak to the whole school on his experience of climbing Mount Everest. He failed the first time due to weather but was like "I had to go again, I felt compelled too!!" and talked about all the money he raised for it before the second time around. He also mentioned how he had a wife and kids and while yea, he might die in his attempt it was worth it. He made it on the second attempt but the whole "presentation" was just a weird self-gratification to brag at his old school, like show people he did something with his life. I remember leaving the assembly and while people around me were like "wow, so inspiring!!" I just felt off about it all but didn't want to say anything. I get back to the Library where I worked and my boss, who I have so much respect for, was like "what a load of bullshit, just a selfish man chasing his own glory and risking his life when he has people that depend on him. That was the most pointless assembly ever." I know this video was more from the sherpas pov but I think it's important to point out how selfish the climbers are. Like the sherpas do it out of necessity, ironically because they have a family that depends on them, whereas the climbers are risking their life for a bit of glory and potentially destroying dozens of lives in the meantime.
Really interesting take! Have you ever considered they do it out of passion? By your logic all nascar drivers, and all surfers, and all F1 drivers, and all boxers, and all UFC fighters, and all sky divers, and all astronauts…etc are selfish. Some people just have passions, life goals, or simply they enjoy it. Sure some things are more dangerous than others, but everyone involved recognizes the risks and makes decisions based of that including the sherpas! I do alot of solo traveling, climbing, sky diving, surfing, hiking and it annoys me to hear comments like this. Not everyone wants to just have a 9-5 save up for a house, and save money so they can retire at 65. Some of us want to experience life brother and there is nothing wrong with that. I also work a 9-5 in finance but man do I feel more alive when I am doing these types of things. I dream of one day being able to climb Everest.
@@rmiguel23 Yes, of course there are inherent risks in life and it is up to each person to make the choice to partake in them. And passion? Yes, I can understand someone being passionate about something and those things, like the professions and sports you listed, can have some level of danger to them. That being said, there is a difference in between UFC fighers, F1 drivers and so on and climbing Mount Everest. First of all, the majority of what you listed are actual professions where, much like the sherpas, the people do it for their family and for livelihood as well as passion. Climbers of Mount Everest on the other hand pay hundreds of thousands of dollars and while I know it's their money to spend, still means they're putting themselves AND OTHERS at risk. To me that is the big difference; they put so many people at the risk of injury/death and ruin countless families in the process. Like you want become a professional boxer? Cool, go for it. In that scenario you're making the choice to put yourself at risk but not others so fine by me. With climbing you can literally be tethered to other people and if you fall or make a mistake because you're tired or inexperienced and shouldn't have been up there, boom, everyone goes down. On top of that, these sherpas are usually the sole provider for their household so with their death not only comes the emotionally ruinage of a family but sends them into financial hell. I realise cutting tours down or outlawing people to climb Everest won't help this situation; the government has to set up some other infrastructure for them to make money if they truly want to help out this portion of their population. I realise this comes across incredibly one-sided and ranty but I just have no respect for people that put other people's life in danger for their own selfish ego. I too work in an office environment but can gain happiness in other ways then killing myself and others on a mountain. I truly do not care if I "annoyed" you with my comment and I maintain it's selfish.
@@hckyroxs8019 You hit it right on the head, sounds incredibly ranty! Sometimes people need to live and let live! They are not putting the Sherpas at risk, they are paying for a package, the Sherpas likewise sought employment and or are running their own tours. No one is putting anyone at risk, everyone is a consenting adult making the decisions they think are best for themselves. Ironically your point takes away this form of lively hood for the sherpas because some person from a first world country thinks they know whats best for the Sherpas😂 Your breakdown about the risks are incredibly ignorant, the Everest death rate is about 1% which is so incredibly low for whats being done! You know what also has a high death rate? Deep sea fishing or how about aircraft pilots! Should we ban those too? Its a little selfish for someone to want to eat king crab or tuna right? Should settle for chicken or beef! Or use a helicopter or jet! Its all just so silly, lets just let people live their lives how they want to live it and mind our business! Thats all! To each their own I guess!
@@rmiguel23I don’t think you get it. If you have high ambitions and put them first on number one, you shouldn’t be married and have kids. Stay single. Climb the Everest then. But pay the Sherpa’s extra money as they put their life in danger for their family as that is the only job that earns enough for them. Meanwhile rich people wanna climb the Everest climb the Everest for their own gain. Not for family. F1 drivers, boxers etc. Are all power and money hungry, those men also shouldn’t be married or have kids. Very selfish to do so, knowing you might die.
Agree. The sherpas guide, advise and carry the weight - so not so much to brag about in comparison. The Goddess mother of the world, the holy mountain is desecrated by dead bodies and garbage - the authorities actually had to enforce a deposit system to stop the sh*t and litter being tossed. Local water sources have been pollututed. A true hero puts in more for others than he takes away for himself.
I trekked in Nepal back in 1990, but I chose to visit the Langtang Valley, which at the time was rarely visited by foreigners. Later while trekking north of Darjeeling, I would get a clear view of Everest off in the distance. For me, this was enough. It is important to acknowledge, that for the vast majority of climbers, reaching the summits is an exercise of the ego. They "bagged" another summit, something to brag about, and Everest is the biggest prize of all.
Maybe these experienced Sherpa's should form a type of union to demand higher fees. From what I understand ... it's Nepal's goverment leaders who are allowing this overcrowding condition. I doubt they'd allow something like that.
@@LanaDelReysBabe Enough to support your family for a year and pay to send your kids to school! Enough to compensate you for risking your life going back and forth over the ice falls. Enough for dealing with obnoxious tourists who have no business on the mountain. Enough to furnish them the best warm clothes and safety equipment to bring them home to their family’s. Enough for physically hauling some spoiled “Karen” to the top and listening to her moan and grown “Help me, I can’t do it” for days straight. Enough to go back up the mountain is a blizzard to try and save your backside. It’s exactly for people like you that decent compensation is needed for the Sherpas and those carry all you crap up the mountain!! 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
They don't need respect though. They need to be lifted out of poverty so they aren't forced to do an incredibly dangerous job for rich fucks who treat them as disposable.
In my opinion you saw one or two youtube documentaries and binged them over and over so many times you're even using words from the title of the documentary
There is a film about the year the Sherpas went on strike and one of the rich climbers actually asked if his expedition leader could find out who they “belonged to” to get them to stop the strike. So the rich climbers don’t see the Sherpas as people, more like the yaks which are also used to carry stuff up to base camp.
@firstbloood1 untrue. I know some rich people. Some are arrogant, some are no different than 90% of the pop in terms of attitude. My neighbor, a plumber living in the edges of town partied with plenty of Hollywood stars when he did work in Malibu, and many of them were regular people (not all of them obv)
Sherpas deserve a rate increase to $30,000 and beyond, considering the dangers, risks, and labor involved. Western and European climbers often rely on them without proper compensation, exploiting their expertise for personal gain. It's time for significant action to be taken by the Mount Everest Sherpa community.
Totally agree $4000 is insanely low for what they are doing, each climber should have to pay **at least** $4000 each to the sherpa leading their expedition.
@@ed1658great question, I see a lot of incorrect figures that people made up from their own ideas of life in Nepal, so I did the research and the math, bc I'm also interested. So, in detail, this is the situation...ahem... the average yearly salary for Nepal in USD is around 7400, (in Nepal's rupees around 965,000.) Sherpas have a lower than average yearly salary even though they earn "a lot" per climb, each climb is well over a month long and climbing season is only 3 months per year. The average sherpa makes between $4000-5000 USD per year. The western born guides they work beside earn around $50,000usd total for those same climbs. Top sherpas only make around $10,000usd for the season, just under 1.5 times the Nepal average salary, despite being one of the most dangerous jobs on EARTH. For further clarity, the average yearly US salary is about 60,000. So for the top sherpas it's like making $85,000/year in the US. And for the average sherpa,it's living in the US making between $33,000 -41,000 a year. Sherpas work somewhere with a death rate of 1 in every 6 per climb, for tourists who are spending 10x their annual salary on a single vacation where the goal is to get a selfie taken up high.
@ed1658 I wonder if the pay is up front? I see a lot of people blaming those to female.clients who died in avalanches for the deaths of their sherpas as if sherpas aren't the ones leading the clients. Do Sherpas lose their pay if they refuse to continue to the summit due to danger?
yeah and your people dont have to climb 8 thousand metres above sea level , where avalanche happen every day , there's no actual path, landslides happen every hour and , once you make a path next day it will be covered with snow , @@uruloki2758
My guide last year has climbed Everest 8 times and runs his own company taking people up. He was much cheaper than anything you'll find online. If you visit the Everest Region, don't book a guide beforehand - you can easily find a local guide in Lukla or Namche for a fraction of the price, and you know 100% of the money goes to them. Also - if you haven't been, I highly recommend it. It's such a special part of the world.
It would be an expensive and long process but I totally agree. There’s way too much risk involved for them to be being payed what they are currently. I just don’t know how that could happen
I'm sure the mountain will still be full if people paid $500,000. Make them pay that much, and pay the sherpas $100k per climb. For the amount of risk they take and the effort and skill.
@kindred3259: I heard Sherpa’s make 3x the annual income of Americans (compared to their economy). All they need to do is close the mountain for a year and pay Sherpa’s to clean the mountain but they won’t.
I hope there is an incoming documentary on highly experienced sherpas and their childhoods. Climbers such as lhakpa Rita Sherpa, who has climbed Everest 18 times and his brother, Kami Rita Sherpa, the current record holder for the most summit of Everest. I know Lhakpa personally and its sad to see that he doesn't get the media coverage that he truly deserves by the western world.
Absolutely agreed. I don't see why people in the west (not limited to the west actually) are so infatuated with the idea of climbing the mt Everest, when in reality there's a good group of people who do this yearly for the SAKE of the people who want to claim that title. Sherpas deserve all the respect. Mount Everest deserves peace from the abuse it undergoes too. The mountain is sacred and too many people with their personal desires try to conquer it. Above all, I would like to see sherpas being kept safe, like Wangchu said, too many sherpas have lost their lives and the only reason he returns is because there's still people who want to conquer the mountain that he feels responsible for. I recently saw a post in a Nepali facebook group of a mother who lost her son (12 years, I think illness) and they had planned to take on mount Everest with the family, which she still wanted to do as a commemoration. Although the thought may be well-intended, I cannot fathom why you would do such a thing with such young children, personally. And after losing a child, why risk your own life? Maybe go to base camp and just appreciate the mountain's grace from below. It may suffice. Wangchhu said he would not think of sending his children up there -- the risk is real. Why do people not hear it from those who've seen it all. Wish sherpa voices would be highlighted more in this case.
Sherpas not only guide and support climbers but also shoulder the responsibility of carrying hefting loads heavier than those they guide also performing emergency rescues, showcasing their extraordinary commitment to ensuring the safety and success of mountain expeditions. Despite these vital roles, they often face inadequate compensation and recognition.
For the country that they’re in, they get paid plenty. And being a Sherpa is a noble job to have. Not sure where you’re coming up with your conclusions.
@@willbart1236did you watch the video? They only get a small cut he literally says “it’s really hard” when talking about money and making a living as a guide
@@willbart1236 Lol, did you watch the video? The guides only get one to two climbs *a year.* which means that they earn less than minimum wage if you divide the money over the entire year.
they are genetically different than the rest of us, I forget what exactly. But over the years they have become almost super human as the traits get passed down that make them perfect for climbing the mountain
1:12 Buddy is getting the sherpa to put his harness on, then proceeds to put his Half Dome on backwards overtop of his headlamp. That's how you know some people just shouldn't be climbing Everest. It amazes me how skilled these sherpas need to be to get these types of people to the summit and back safely.
Technically the helmet backwards is at 1:19. Good catch though! At 3:30 the guy is finally wearing the helmet correctly. It's pretty funny how those types of people don't get any experience elsewhere such as the Alps, Rockies before attempting Everest.
@@philipthecow As someone from Nepal living in Rockies(Colorado) and avid climber of 14er, there is nothing in alps and Rockies that would equal those offered by Himalayas. the only place apart of Himalayas where one can practice is in Andes in south america
@@sumitshresth There's plenty of stuff in the Rockies / Alps that would help prepare you for the Himalayas. Sure, Himalayan elevation can't be matched but there are plenty of technical climbs in snow in lower elevation mountain ranges. It's like biking before you get on a motorbike.
@@philipthecow as usual being dismissive of the 'locals' , well, just because. Reminds me of the lady who assumed that hauling an 18kg backpack up and down the stairs of her apartment block in Canada was enough practise. Needless to say, shes one of the many bodies encased in ice up on the Everest.
not all of them are rich. Many are also just enthusiasts of climbing and have to get sponsors or work for multiple years while living from as little as possible to be able to pay for these expeditions.
Unpopular opinion, those guys who spend millions on a fancy cars and houses, couldn't they just buy a modest car or house that satisfies their needs to live a good life and give away the rest of the money to the needy so they can make ends meet ? same shit here
The Sherpa from the 2008 K2 incident said it best when he said they paid the sherpas and then behave as if they own the Sherpas like. He was referencing when the climbers forced the Sherpas to climb back up K2 to try and rescue people with regard to their own wellbeing and not the Sherpas
If you don't respect the Sherpa, you don't respect the mountain. And that leads to disaster. It's like when people don't listen to fishermen or life guards regarding the sea.
This seems like a pretty obvious supply and demand issue. With the record demand, the cost is obviously too low, especially with the decreasing supply of Sherpas willing to do the work. They should increase the price WAY more than they are. Enough people will still pay the much higher price, and it will likely slightly reduce the traffic on Everest. AND give the Sherpas a much bigger cut. AND set clear boundaries that the Sherpas must be treated a certain way as they are GUIDES not SLAVES.
Plus the rich people who can still afford it will appreciate that it’s even more exclusive than before. Which is a crappy reason but important for someone like that.
The adventurer you're referring to is most likely Göran Kropp, a Swedish mountaineer and cyclist nicknamed "The Crazy Swede" for his daring feats. In 1996, he embarked on an epic journey, cycling 13,000 kilometres from Sweden to Nepal, summiting Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, and then cycling back home. This incredible expedition cemented his reputation as an extreme adventurer.
@@conor1821Chomolungma is the local name and they should have kept it that way because it was named Sagarmatha only after its height was known and Everest isn’t even a local name. This is also disrespect to Sherpas who live near that mountain.
At least he was flat out honest, and modest about it, saying he carried 10 kilos, when the Sherpa carried 30. The vast majority of people who climb Everest won't admit this.
@@PhilAndersonOutside There are about 200 people who have climbed Everest without supplemental O2, and most likely less than a dozen who have done it without Sherpas and O2. Out of thousands!
@@DrrnTW It's actually happened at least once: "Lars Olof Göran Kropp (11 December 1966 - 30 September 2002) was a Swedish adventurer and mountaineer, the first Scandinavian to climb Mount Everest without oxygen. He made a solo ascent of Mount Everest without bottled oxygen or Sherpa support on 23 May 1996, for which he travelled by bicycle, alone, from Sweden and part-way back."
Also these two: Reinhold Messner: “In 1978, he made the first solo ascent of Mt. Everest the first ascent …without supplemental oxygen,…” Jerzy Kukuczka also did it, (though not as popularly known as Messner)
Makes me think of that Sherpa Documentary on Netflix when some westerner asked of the Sherpas to the rich mountain guide business owner “who owns them?!” I couldn’t believe what I had heard to be honest.
Nepal's greatest treasure isn't its mountains, but it's people. I've been to the country twice - returning I thought I remembered how amazing that place is, but it exceeded even my memories. Absolutely stunning country with such amazing people.
News flash: 3rd world countries almost never actually have "amazing" people. That's why they're 3rd world countries. Unless you consider poor, uneducated, and criminally minded people amazing. If Nepalese are amazing then people such as Americans would be godlike.
Personally, I have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration for people with such an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit, climbing dangerous mountains repeatedly to feed their family; those Sherpas are really amazing.
I was there to witness their hard work and dedication on my trip to the Base Camp back on 2019. I salute them all for their bravery and above all selfless attitude to make everything go right...... I Salute you all..........
@freedonuts5600 I get your point, but if you're an experienced climber you should be going there with the confidence that you know you'll go up and probably don't need it. A refresher should be there if you haven't mountaineered in a while
Refresher, sure. They were also there to acclimatize to the low oxygen levels. But did you see how some of those climbers were climbing? As though this is the first hike, let alone mountain ascent that they've ever done.@@freedonuts5600
@@patrickwilliamson29 You might be an experienced climber but climbing a 85 degree rockface at 6000 m is different from climbing the same rockface aboe 8000m when your body is not getting oxygen and there are whiteout conditions. The point of base camp is to get your body to acclimatize to high altitude and the best way to do that is to actually go through the climbing actions while you wait to acclimatize. No one should just arrive at base camp and setoff. Thats how people die and rescuers trying to save them die.
Sooo..today i learned, those climbers who got to the top of the mountain were not just having local sherpas as their guide, but also to carry their heavy stuff. Disgusting.
Sherpas do all the hard work. Most people who climb Everest nowadays are just rich hobbyists, they wouldn’t have a chance of making it without the sherpas.
No one is putting a gun to the sherpas heads to force them to work as porters and guides. The have free will to choose it or not. By Nepali standards they make more than a years average salary from guiding on Everest. Nothing disgusting about it. Many are able to retire early and put their family through schooling. Higher risk in mining and building in Nepal.
Sherpas are in charge of setting up all the ladders and ropes needed for climbers to ascend safely. Remember that the snow-covered terrain is constantly changing due to snowfall and solar heat, and that some people are taking great risks to place safety harnesses, ropes, ladders, cylinders, and other equipment all the way from base camp to the summit. Salute to these mountain legends. 💪
So excited that you're doing a series on Everest! One question, though-- "guides only work with experienced high-altitude mountaineers, a requirement of the Nepalese government." The Nepalese government requires absolutely no experience whatsoever for an Everest permit, and many low-cost operators advertise learning on the go (resulting in high rates of death for their clients). You might be confusing the Nepal side with the Tibetan side. The Chinese government requires any Chinese citizen attempting the Tibetan side to have already summited an 8000-meter peak, and any foreign national to have summited a 7000-meter peak. The lack of requirement for experience on the Nepal side, driven by the government's dependence on permit fees, is a major contributor to the rising death rates we've seen in recent seasons.
You misunderstood dingus. 🤦 They said that the GUIDES all have to be experienced mountaineers, not the clients paying to summit. And there were a MILLION context clues around that section making that about as explicit as it gets. Is English a second language for you or something??? O_o Because you're kinda struggle busing. 🤷 (As well as the 61 and counting people that also seem to have skipped English class.)
@@Cooe. The video does refer to mountaineers needing experience and then refers to guides, making it clear that guides refers to the Sherpas. The words they used are guides only work with experienced high-altitude mountaineers, a requirement of the Nepalese government. They do not say that guides have to be experienced high-altitude mountaineers.
@@Cooe. What's with the name calling? Why are you being mean? What's with "second language" condescending question? Did you have a bad child upbringing? (I'm being like you with your questions; did you see that?). So I'll continue to be like you so you can understand your TONE and APPROACH. Did you have a bad upbringing because you seem angry, holding all this pent up negativity for no reason. Are you in a bad place emotionally right now? Because your entire paragraph seems like an angry teenager that never got his way and so you have this armchair superior self righteous attitude. So take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself, why was I so explosive in my reply to someone who had a legitimate question about a documentary that had nothing to do with me as a person. Think about that...............
@@justadude8369 I'm not too sure about this but I believe that whenever you summit or climb a mountain of such height, it's recorded in the local govt. Your name is written down to track and trace you, also in case when you go missing and the likes, they can trace who went up the mountain and when. But not sure how all this is communicated to other govts! maybe you receive some paper yourself as proof as well. idk
I have the utmost respect and admiration for the Sherpas of Mount Everest. Their unparalleled expertise in navigating the treacherous terrain, their strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment to their craft are truly awe-inspiring.
If it is only one climb per season, these Sherpas should be making like $20k. If one has enough money to climb the mountain, they have enough money to pay the guides considerably more.
If I were a climber I most deffinitly would pay my Sherpa more than 10,000. If you can pay 100,000 for the whole, than a bit more doesn't matter. Your Sherpa carries so much of your stuff, he leads the way and he is also in danger every time he climbs. So for his family left behind, I would pay at least 20,000.
There are two Sherpa. Usually. Plus an army of porters. These two Sherpa get a lot of cash, bonuses etc. I say over 5000 usd if client goes to the top. They are not underpaid at all. And this is for cheap climb 45k. For 100k climb they maybe make 10k each.
@@irisgallati Sure, I climb and I even pay for it.... getting someone else to pay? Wonderful. Oh, in case you are wondering, on one of my trips I had spare days after a summit. I could have do some porting - moving stuff for people. Local porters threatened me with a knife... So don't t think these guys will give up their jobs anytime soon ;)
@@tomk3732I have been reading and watching plenty of mountaineering stuff and I was also wondering this underpayment thing. I think it’s kind of need to make them to look like victims even though low salaries are normally in local companies and if you are employed by a good Western company you are paid well for high quality guidance.
they are not underpaid, they make huge money for the region they live in. it would be the equivalent of 6 figures and only having to work seasonally. @@irisgallati
If it wasn’t for Sherpas Mount Everest still wouldn’t be conquered. The Sherpas are the ones who summit every year and not those who do it for social media. All we do is leave litter and bugger up the mountain. 👍🇿🇦
So true. They’re the ones setting up the ropes and ladders, trying to forge a path, before any official hike up the mountain happens. They’re the ones that goes ahead of everyone else at earlier times, often when the weather isn’t at its peak for perfect climbing, and they set up everything just so people going up would even know where to go… They’re the ones cleaning up base camps and setting it all up just so a bunch of ego-fueled people with deep pockets can come in and litter it with waste (both trash and human waste). They even do rituals for those going up to bless them and protect them while asking for forgiveness for climbing the mountain. They risk so much and put a lot on the line with their beliefs just to feed their families and give them some form of stability. The way Everest has become a tourist zone like this anymore is just downright depressing.
So let me make this clear; the whole expedition costs over a 100k and the Sherpas are only getting paid 4.5k - 10k?! That means you are only paying 5-10% of your cost to the Sherpas who are the single most important factor that will help you survive over there. These guys are horribly underpaid and exploited. I truly hope the Sherpa people get opportunities to live a dignified life other that to serve as baby sitters for these grown ass rich assholes.
Yep, and this may be a pretty controversial hot take on my end, but on top of better pay for Sherpas, I also personally believe people paying all this money to go should also start tipping them. Yes, tipping. Not measly little US diner tipping, but “thanks for protecting me and guiding me” tipping that’ll help these Sherpas have SOME money to themselves that isn’t largely taken by the government. I know it’s a western/US thing to do, but why not show gratitude towards someone risking their life for your little Everest vacay? Needs be something that becomes common amongst people; that they know by instinct that it should be done anymore to make it a common practice among tourists going to such a dangerous place where others are putting their life on the line to guide you. Make it be something as common as tipping a waitress at a diner in the US if you feel they served you well, helping someone up when they fall, holding a door open for someone walking in behind you, letting an elderly person walk ahead of you in through a door, getting out of the left lane if you’re holding up traffic and not going above the speed limit, tipping someone extra for squeezing you in for a hair appointment last minute, pulling off on the side of the road in the US when passing a funeral procession, turning your bright lights off at night when passing another vehicle … etc etc etc - stuff that is commonly known as common courtesy. Tipping Sherpas needs to be just that: common courtesy; something commonly known amongst anyone going up the mountain to just do. I mean, the way I see it is if people are going pay big money to climb a mountain to treat them like bellhops at a hotel where they carry your shite for you to the top and set everything up for you, then tip them - and they should tip them good for something this dangerous. Even a couple hundred bucks their way would help in these instances, or hell even a crisp 50 would be _something_ … because IMO, if you can afford to go on a trip to Everest and you have the luxury to spend several weeks acclimating to the climate with no worry about a job or such back home, then there is no excuse for it. You have money and privilege to show gratitude in such a manner. They’ve earned to get a tip because the government isn’t really giving them much to begin with and it’s the very LEAST someone can do, but the way I’ve heard from some is that when they _are_ tipped by people … it’s basically a few dollars here and there. Most people don’t even bother because they don’t see it as something they should do, thinking “well they get paid to do this; it’s not my job to give them anything” while dismissing how they get scraps in comparison to the amount paid out. That way of thinking needs to go out the door because it’s pathetic. Now, imagine if it was common courtesy to tip them amongst everyone going up. I know people will rant and rave about tipping culture being out of hand and vehemently disagree, but this is one of those instances where I think it genuinely should be a common practice among climbers because right now … they get next to nothing when you look at the numbers. If every climber tossed a bit their way into a pot and it be divided (considering how many go yearly, it could honestly be a lot), it could really help them feel more appreciated. Even if it’s just a few hundred bucks, because right now they basically just get litter and human waste that tourists leave for them to clean up in return. That’s their “gratitude” outside of the government hoarding all the profits. Like I said, I know most won’t agree with that take, but it’s where I am at anymore when it comes to the topic of Everest and it being a tourist hotspot in a country where the average income is scraps in comparison to the people paying to climb it. Tack on how being a Sherpa is honestly the best paying job they have (which speaks volumes considering how much they’re paid), it could really make a big difference if it became common.
It's like when "essential" workers still had to work in person in the pandemic but got no pay raise for the additional risk they were facing. "Essential" in this context carries the connotation of "disposable." Yes the Sherpas are essential to the tourism industry, but the people in power decided that as long as there is a supply of Sherpas then why should they go out of their way to take care of them? Especially since the Sherpa are basically uneducated rural people? It's the same kind of logic.
Perhaps the best thing that might happen for the future of Everest mountaineering would be for the likes of Nirmal Purja and other Sherpas to assume control of the management of expeditions, beyond just the laborious functions. It is their backyard, they are highly skilled, and they have the greatest vested interest in the future of Everest. See “Fourteen Peaks”.
Beautifully filmed, and very pleasant narration. I have hiked close to base camp in the mid-‘80s, and was astounded by how many tourists there were, and so impressed with the locals.
They are super well paid. They are richest people in their village. There is zero chance this is about to change as 95% of people cannot do it without hand holding.
@@tomk3732 super well paid? I doubt it. even people who collect garbage in the west are paid better. and saying richest in their village is like saying YOU are the smartest in your family lol doesnt say much eh tommy boy
The sherpas know exactly what they're doing. They set the price themselves. If they can raise the price and earn a better income, they would have already done so.
Even if it does make the trek more expensive to achieve for non-professional climbers, it is going to be absolutely worth it. Those mountain guides ought to be compensated adequately for paving the way on such a deadly part of this world so that others can experience it.
We will know in the coming years. If Nepal doesn't pay them what they are owed(multiple times what they are paid now) then as the current sherpas say, there won't be any. And with no sherpas there will be no summits, and with no sherpas there will be a huge tourism decline. Nepal is shooting itself in the foot with its current greed.
@@lemonnade5974 it doesn't matter who they hire, sherpas are literally the most vital part of the entire system. If they aren't getting paid for their work, then there's little reason to do it unless they love it. All I'm saying is that it's ridiculous that it costs so much to hire them, but none of the money goes to them. And it's even more ridiculous since they have a low cost of living and still struggle. Like what percentage do they get paid? Because it's not enough.
@@lemonnade5974 sherpas can do 2 or 3 times as much as most people. There aren't many groups of people in the world who could do anything like them. Anyone else out there would need significantly more people and people who go to work there will be way way more expensive. The only point I'm trying to make is that they should be paid at least enough to be out of poverty and that it's ridiculous. There's no argument here.
The Nepalese government's requirement of experience before Everest is a joke, simply because it's not effective. It doesn't require any actual technical capability, only that you had to have summited 6500m or higher in Nepal. Basically, it's revenue focused rather than capabilities focused. The video clearly shows some folks who don't even have basic skills in climbing with crampons. The fact that there were more permits issued sort of shows that the requirements are a joke, especially since there's no ramifications because there aren't any actual enforcement procedures to prove a client met the previous summit requirement.
I was under the impression that it was more about deterring people who aren't actually mountaineers and are doing just Everest as a one-off for bragging rights
@@ss-ds2dn Nothing much is done as you say - in fact opposite - Nepal wants total beginners as they are likely to fail and will try again --- more $$$$ Its all about $$$$.
Beautiful documentary and such an important topic. Thank you for this! I love mountaineering docs but so often guides are treated as secondary characters instead of stars, I love the refocus here on the immense expertise and courage they have. And the inequity in mountaineering. They deserve so much more.
That porter at the end was so cute and had a beautiful smile on his face and was very happy. I hope he fulfills all his dreams someday. Such hard work, I commend their ethics and hard work. They need to make a lot more money.
I found the most infuriating part that some companies offer the sherpas 1500 after a successful ascent. Not only does that incentivize sherpas to keep climbing even in not so favorable conditions but it means that should they die and leave there family behind they pay them less and leave the family with less. When they should be taken care of fully by the tourists or government. No words.
It's actually not that hard. 2-3 years of training and you'll do same. I'm not sherpa, not even training much, but still capable to gracefully hike on 4500-ish with 30 kilo backpack.
@@lol32scbw 30 kilo? Thats it? I do 10000 jumping jacks wearing 80 kilo vest before breakfast just to warm up my muscles. Its very easy, im suprised you struggle with 30
@@Dempig No kidding. 30 kilo is my normal. 33-35 is when it becomes hard (and my backpack starts squeaking in a dying manner). Couple of years ago it was like 25 as normal and 30 as very-very hard. When I started backpacking it was 15/20. It's all about adaptation to body tension and obtaining balance to do only necessary movement under heavy load. It's more technical then you think. Grace is actually means good technique. I can give some advices. First, backpack belt should be lower and straps more loose. Second your poles must be shorter to reduce unneeded shoulders movements. For my 185cm it's about 115cm (on moderate steep terrain). I actually never set my poles above 120cm. Poles are never far ahead of your toes. You're pushing forward by poles, not hanging on them.
@@juliapuertas6769 when you have a possibility not to carry shit at all it's superhard to carry even a small amounts of it. Pretty understandable. But you can see russian expeditions carrying all the shit on their own because they always haven't enough money.
The last young man, Rai, I hope he becomes a world reknowned mountain climber "a guest" as they refer to them and not one of the guides. THAT would be lovely. With an expedition company if he wanted that for himself. Good luck, young man! Many fortunes!
The fact there is an Everest tourist industry at all shows the level of crazy the world has got to. These amazing people risking their lives so rich people can have fancy instagram photos. Sickening.
The job of a moutain guide is to guide or drag up a client to the top and make sure that he/she is safe. That's universal on mountains around the world (Alps, Himalaya, ...). Nowhere in the world mountain guides earn as much (compared to the local average) as in the Himalayan mountains. Part of the job is, that the mountain guides are usually not mentioned. When you don't like this, you are wrong in this busines.
There are several prorblems, the biggest being them letting anyone with money climb the mountain, that puts the sherpas in much greater danger, and the second problem is the amount of garbage left on the mountain, in 10 years it will be more like a visit to the local landfil.
The solution to the first is to insist anyone who attempts Everest has first climbed a 7,000m mountain. This will give them experience, and also bring more $$$ to Nepal (presuming the climber/tourist attempts the 7,000m peak in Nepal). This could be done in a single season if timed right, plus help with acclimatization, or it could be done in back-to-back years just as easily. This would also increase the safety for everyone. Most modern paying climbers are wealthy enough to not blink at the cost of this.
@@PhilAndersonOutside They did that in China - but they want 8000m mountain. And they saw decrease in traffic as it is hard to do in single season. Pretty much impossible. As to your 7000er - yeah its sort of possible - I assume many people doing Everest do say Mera peak or Island or Lobuche as acclimatization step. It gives them zero extra experience or next to zero. Chinese idea is what is needed. But all 8000ers are cheaper than Everest - idea is if you fail you try expensive Everest again. So more $$$$ for Nepal.
The level of overcrowding on the mountain and over commercialization is very disturbing. Everest is held sacred by the Sherpas and is an incredibly beautiful place. It is sad how many of the Sherpas have been exploited and have not been given the recognition they deserve.
Those who are really wanting to conquer the Everest. please be aware of every possible aspects out there in Everest. And yes, this video is one of the most educational videos I've ever seen.❤
omg the guy who went to base camp by heli is exactly the kind of people that shouldnt go... Also I'm worried that someone is learning how to ascend a rope at base camp. I don't understand if they allow these level of inexperience in the summit push
They have an overabundance of hubris, what could possibly go wrong at 8,500 meters. Maybe that rich helicopter guy can hire 4 Sherpas and they can carry him up the mountain in a palanquin. The girl gives off social media influencer vibes.
@on3232 funny part is he made so much money leeching off of the achievements with all the sponsors, documentaries, businesses he has made from that one documentary where he now owns a helicopter with his name written all over it, small planes/gliders going around the himalaya, a skydiving company for himalayan skydiving.. seems like more of an entrepreneur than an actual 'mountaineer'
Excellent video, and a big surprise on a site like Business Insider. The footage is also amazing, (sure, you can give a few Gopros to Sherpas and collect at the end, but much more great footage has been taken here. These men are truly amazing, and do seem to be a dying breed. Nat Geo also did an excellent video, Unsung Here's of Everest. I spent a couple days with an Everest / Chomolungma Sherpa, they seem to have nerves of steel, can handle crazy elements, have an unwavering sense of duty / responsibility, and are caring, gentle people (giants).
No amount of money in the world would motivate me to climb Everest. Those crevasses alone are terrifying. Imagine if that ladder fell. That's it. You're stuck in a crevasse on Mount Everest.
A really insightful focus here. If the mountaineering industry on Everest is finally confronted with skilled Shepa guides are deciding not to train the next generation of guides, because the risks outweigh the the compensations, and they value better education and more options for their kids, maybe the Everest climb will lift up those who most support that dangerous pursuit, allowing the few who are truly willing to take risks to make a great deal of money. It ought to always have been so. They do the useful things on the mountain, including rescuing people, most. For anyone else, it's mostly about an experience and bragging rights about skill-level and symbolic importance. With so much real danger to human life and welfare on the line for abstractions we could just as well attach to some more practically useful work in the world, climbers should be funding the self-actualization of the entire Himalayan Sherpa people, if they want to survive Everest. Otherwise, what does it all really stand for?
I have the upmost respect for sherpas. In my opinion they should get at least triple what they get given what they do for climbing teams. It's their efforts that allow people to achieve their goals.
Thanks for the Sharing reality of Mountain guides. Thanks for giving them a platform to share their experience & thought. Subscribed for more videos that show reality.
I have so much respect for these guys. I now understand what Sherpas do especially when I watched 14 Peaks on Netflix. Not an easy livelihood and also not that of good pay.
Are you enjoying Krakauer's book? Into Thin Air is on my bucket-list to read after watching the 2015 'Everest' film, which I thought was excellent and a sobering take on the 1996 climb disaster. As a visual medium, the film can only pack so much into its runtime, of course.
@@beeman2075 I’m about halfway through and yes it’s been very enjoyable! He has a very engaging prose and writing style. I’m usually not a non-fiction reader but his stuff is as intriguing as fiction.
Some 25 years after the first summit of Mt. Everest I had the incredible good fortune of shaking my childhood hero's hand (Sherpa Tenzing). Huge respect. Not so much for thrill and ego seekers who couldn't come close to the summit without substantial assistance.
Amazing production! thanks! It's always the movies/news are about western people who "climb" or died there, sherpas are never on the spotlight, They are treated just as equipment it's sad and government make their pockets full, I hope Nepalese people have better opportunities in a near future.
I feel lucky that I have climbed Everest. I was lucky and got to do it in one attempt. It took us 11 weeks in total from the very start. It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be at the top, and something people don't show often is the bodies left behind that are used as markers, and the flags left at the summit. The most terrifying part is crossing a crevasse and you can see that some can go several hundred feet down. One of my group's Sherpa guides was incredibly friendly. He blessed each and every one of us, despite us not sharing his beliefs. I actually left most of what I did not need to take home with some Sherpas to either sell for some extra money or to use themselves. If I were to do it again, and I am definitely not going back, I would personally pay my Sherpa guides more. Edit: spelling errors.
I assume that these expedition companies are paying off the Nepalese government to make sure they have a monopoly on it. No way they will allow sherpas to directly do it themselves.
@@whoopsydaisy6389 I think the garbage is a shame, but that's not a reason to ban climbing the mountain. It's an epic feat of athleticism, it's arguably the hardest physical challenge a human can achieve. Something that insanely intense shouldn't be kept from those who want to climb it. The laws should rather be enforced more heavily. Perhaps the government could make a clause allowing Sherpas to take not of who litters and then after the climb, give them a hefty government fine for littering. That way, Sherpas don't need to cause a scene on the mountain, and the climbers will be worried they have the eyes of sherpas watching them to see if they litter, which would discourage it.
It is still crazy to me that people who are not properly trained and ready for climbing Everest try to do this. They just put the lives of others in danger.
By the way, there ARE independent climbers, that can really climb and even carry their own stuff. At least on the mountain. Porting to base-camps is a different story.
True. It's somewhat rare, but true. The purist climbers perhaps are the ones not climbing the main route up Everest, or climbing in the fall season, when the window is open, but more difficult.
no. they would be using ladders and fixed ropes set by sherpas. they would have to make multiple trips up and down the camps to stash gear and supplies, summit, then make more repeated trips back up and down the camps to retrieve their equipment.
At this stage in time, 2024, anyone doing extreme altitude climbing should be prepared to carry their own gear and equipment. We have learned enough off the backs of Sherpas. The volume of people is ridiculous. It needs to be reduced to only those fit enough to carry supplies.
We’re excited to bring you part one of our four-part series about Mount Everest! Leave a comment below: Where would you like to see Business Insider go next?
Tahiti? African Safaris perhaps (there may be many issues with these?)? Fishermen? Arctic (research teams, locals, Eskimos)?, North Korea would be interesting but... difficult to show the truth. Great episode today, thank you. The human struggle is the most interesting.
Brilliant show. Thanks. MS Hans Hedtoft?? What would a colony need on Mars?? Nepal should charge $50 000 a ticket. Make the same money with less people or enforce sherpa use...then charge $100 000 a ticket. 50% non refundable deposit for booking. More money, less pollution and well paid Sherpas. ;)
A look at the trash on Everest.
Life in/on the DMZ between the Koreas. From soldiers and the everyday people who live next to it. (As someone who lives in Seoul, this is of great interest to everyone outside of Korea)
I would like to see K2 Mountain in Asia being covered. That is another mountain that is dangerous to climb as well. At least that is what I read. If you are done with mountains, I would like Business Insider to cover the national dog show. I don't see any animal news or videos related to Business Insider. It would be nice for a change. Like what goes on behind the scenes. How does one enter their dog. The rules involved. How are dogs selected.
I went to a corporate event a while back and there was a motivational speaker who had 'climbed Everest'. While he spoke I realized that this was by far his only 'accomplishment', and in reality he had invested $60,000 into an Everest climbing expedition to parley into a motivational speaking gig.
He wasn't a climber with a story to tell, he just paid to go. We don't need more people climbing Everest for that.
Yes , these people are attention-seeking nonentities
Commercial climber. I did my first 8000er after doing 9 smaller expeditions.
Worst kind of people those.
Yeah, recently I've seen them pictures of the queues to get up there. I just thought they were all a bunch of losers, what does it feel like being in a queue to get up there. Surrounded by an ocean of mountains, all impressively massive, solitude and adventure in every direction...but, nah, not good enough, I want the one that everyone will know is the best, because it's not really about conquering something, being on an adventure and seeing something amazing in the world, it's about telling people you've done this stuff.
Losers.
@panamapapertiger1720 what you wrote it so on point. Exactly
6:08 What needs to be mentioned is that a rescue mission can be potentially career ending for the guide as well. I know a Sherpa who carried 2 injured climbers on his shoulders off a mountain (not Everest) and injured his own shoulders in the process. He could no longer be an expedition guide as his shoulders can no longer carry heavy loads. Not to mention the very real and high risk of death
Tashi Delek 🙏 one question: what happened with this Sherpa Guide, he received support and help for to manage his life?
They really should pay them a bonus for every life they save
Obvious reason not to go. Expensive, cold, dangerous and deadly. In no way a flex. I don't wanna go that way. In bed with my cat please.
@@dan-bz7dz Nope , then they'd have an incentive to risk lives.
@@oriconceptarts3233you’re a dumbass if you think any Sherpa guide would intentionally risk the lives of the climbers and also risk their own life having to successfully complete the rescue for some extra money
I keep getting recommended videos of rich people talking about Everest. This is the only Everest video I care to watch. RIP to every Sherpa who gave their life so wealthy tourists could get their fix, post on the internet, become motivational speakers, etc. Summiting Everest has become such a soulless endeavor.
6:18 the rescued hiker is from Malaysia and one of the most ungrateful person. He returned to his country and thanked his sponsor instead of the Sherpa(who had to convince his client to cancel their hike to save this hiker), He even went so far to block this Sherpa from his Instagram. Once news of this came to light, he turned from a national hero to an embarrassment for the nation.
Typical BILLIONAIRE .
name of the hiker?
Didn't know this story before. As a Malaysian myself this is beyond embarassment.
@@DaVe-iSnOtHoMe.MaN.LemmingsWeB not sure if he's a billionaire, but definitely 100% brainless idiot
@@donbernie9346 Found him. Ravichandran Tharumalingam. apparently he's using Everest as his middle name on LinkedIn and running a company related to moutaineering. lol
I had a phase when I binge-watched mountaineering disaster videos and Everest videos, and I think this video is the first one to actually include the Sherpas that perished in the overall Everest death toll.
CORRECTION: IT IS CALLED MOUNTAIN CHOMOLUNGMA
@@rainaflores779that’s the Tibetan name the Nepalese name is sagarmatha
I had that same phase lol. That plus caving\diving distasters
me too, still in it lol I wonder if theres a name for this obsession haha @@alexenaku
Went through a same phase
I've been watching a lot of these videos lately, but this one made me cry. Without the Sherpas, it's nearly impossible to climb that mountain. That's why I was never amused and couldn't understand why countries celebrate the people who summits Everest.
The government SHOULD have a special holiday for these guides to celebrate them, SHOULD provide health benefits, SHOULD provide insurance and financial assistance for their families. They should price the permits at $50,000 so they'll be able to provide these, at least, and to limit the number of hikers and trash on the mountain.
Raising the price won’t change anything. People pay upwards of $200,000 U.S. to climb Everest but they’re paying it to western expedition companies, and they pay the Sherpa’s squat. It may eliminate a few hikers but that’s it. A wealthier hiker will soon take their place. They need to stop westerners from operating these businesses in Nepal and area and only allow Nepalese people to do it. People are literally and figuratively getting rich off the backs of the Sherpa people, except the Sherpa’s. Maybe tickets should only be available through a Sherpa, and no one else.
All of this!
Great suggestion. They are the real summiters and don't do it for the bragging rights
@@Trouble-Clefno one pays 200k to climb everest unless you includes all in including training and other climbs
Reinhold Messner didn't need a Sherpa.
Is it me or does an increase of the climb fee to $15k doesn't sound like it is going to make a dent to solve the problems of overcrowding and paying the sherpas?
Nah, too many rich people nowadays
lol it wont. That 15k goes straight to Gov officails. If they actually used the permit money to pay sherpas there wouldn't be this problem.
This is for Nepal government. Not for sherpa.
In addition to the fee there should be a theoretical and practical test, plus some sort of license that proves you are an experienced climber
All stolen by government.
I remember a few years ago while working at a private school in the UK, we had a former pupil come and speak to the whole school on his experience of climbing Mount Everest. He failed the first time due to weather but was like "I had to go again, I felt compelled too!!" and talked about all the money he raised for it before the second time around. He also mentioned how he had a wife and kids and while yea, he might die in his attempt it was worth it. He made it on the second attempt but the whole "presentation" was just a weird self-gratification to brag at his old school, like show people he did something with his life.
I remember leaving the assembly and while people around me were like "wow, so inspiring!!" I just felt off about it all but didn't want to say anything. I get back to the Library where I worked and my boss, who I have so much respect for, was like "what a load of bullshit, just a selfish man chasing his own glory and risking his life when he has people that depend on him. That was the most pointless assembly ever."
I know this video was more from the sherpas pov but I think it's important to point out how selfish the climbers are. Like the sherpas do it out of necessity, ironically because they have a family that depends on them, whereas the climbers are risking their life for a bit of glory and potentially destroying dozens of lives in the meantime.
Really interesting take! Have you ever considered they do it out of passion? By your logic all nascar drivers, and all surfers, and all F1 drivers, and all boxers, and all UFC fighters, and all sky divers, and all astronauts…etc are selfish. Some people just have passions, life goals, or simply they enjoy it. Sure some things are more dangerous than others, but everyone involved recognizes the risks and makes decisions based of that including the sherpas! I do alot of solo traveling, climbing, sky diving, surfing, hiking and it annoys me to hear comments like this. Not everyone wants to just have a 9-5 save up for a house, and save money so they can retire at 65. Some of us want to experience life brother and there is nothing wrong with that. I also work a 9-5 in finance but man do I feel more alive when I am doing these types of things. I dream of one day being able to climb Everest.
@@rmiguel23 Yes, of course there are inherent risks in life and it is up to each person to make the choice to partake in them. And passion? Yes, I can understand someone being passionate about something and those things, like the professions and sports you listed, can have some level of danger to them. That being said, there is a difference in between UFC fighers, F1 drivers and so on and climbing Mount Everest. First of all, the majority of what you listed are actual professions where, much like the sherpas, the people do it for their family and for livelihood as well as passion. Climbers of Mount Everest on the other hand pay hundreds of thousands of dollars and while I know it's their money to spend, still means they're putting themselves AND OTHERS at risk. To me that is the big difference; they put so many people at the risk of injury/death and ruin countless families in the process. Like you want become a professional boxer? Cool, go for it. In that scenario you're making the choice to put yourself at risk but not others so fine by me. With climbing you can literally be tethered to other people and if you fall or make a mistake because you're tired or inexperienced and shouldn't have been up there, boom, everyone goes down.
On top of that, these sherpas are usually the sole provider for their household so with their death not only comes the emotionally ruinage of a family but sends them into financial hell. I realise cutting tours down or outlawing people to climb Everest won't help this situation; the government has to set up some other infrastructure for them to make money if they truly want to help out this portion of their population.
I realise this comes across incredibly one-sided and ranty but I just have no respect for people that put other people's life in danger for their own selfish ego. I too work in an office environment but can gain happiness in other ways then killing myself and others on a mountain. I truly do not care if I "annoyed" you with my comment and I maintain it's selfish.
@@hckyroxs8019 You hit it right on the head, sounds incredibly ranty! Sometimes people need to live and let live! They are not putting the Sherpas at risk, they are paying for a package, the Sherpas likewise sought employment and or are running their own tours. No one is putting anyone at risk, everyone is a consenting adult making the decisions they think are best for themselves. Ironically your point takes away this form of lively hood for the sherpas because some person from a first world country thinks they know whats best for the Sherpas😂 Your breakdown about the risks are incredibly ignorant, the Everest death rate is about 1% which is so incredibly low for whats being done! You know what also has a high death rate? Deep sea fishing or how about aircraft pilots! Should we ban those too? Its a little selfish for someone to want to eat king crab or tuna right? Should settle for chicken or beef! Or use a helicopter or jet! Its all just so silly, lets just let people live their lives how they want to live it and mind our business! Thats all! To each their own I guess!
@@rmiguel23I don’t think you get it. If you have high ambitions and put them first on number one, you shouldn’t be married and have kids. Stay single. Climb the Everest then. But pay the Sherpa’s extra money as they put their life in danger for their family as that is the only job that earns enough for them. Meanwhile rich people wanna climb the Everest climb the Everest for their own gain. Not for family. F1 drivers, boxers etc. Are all power and money hungry, those men also shouldn’t be married or have kids. Very selfish to do so, knowing you might die.
Agree.
The sherpas guide, advise and carry the weight - so not so much to brag about in comparison.
The Goddess mother of the world, the holy mountain is desecrated by dead bodies and garbage - the authorities actually had to enforce a deposit system to stop the sh*t and litter being tossed.
Local water sources have been pollututed.
A true hero puts in more for others than he takes away for himself.
I trekked in Nepal back in 1990, but I chose to visit the Langtang Valley, which at the time was rarely visited by foreigners. Later while trekking north of Darjeeling, I would get a clear view of Everest off in the distance. For me, this was enough. It is important to acknowledge, that for the vast majority of climbers, reaching the summits is an exercise of the ego. They "bagged" another summit, something to brag about, and Everest is the biggest prize of all.
Ilahi Rabbi..
Watisi kawara mu ruma ta ede.. di Made kai ..
Makanya sholat lah.
Mesjid Al Furqan.
This is what I'll do..my biggest fear is when the Mountain itself calls me from a distance 😂😅
Thr highest prize) but not the most challenging
Thank you from Nepal for covering this. Our Sherpa people deserves better.
And the porters too.
Maybe these experienced Sherpa's should form a type of union to demand higher fees.
From what I understand ... it's Nepal's goverment leaders who are allowing this overcrowding condition. I doubt they'd allow something like that.
If I could be a customer of these guides, I would give VERY large cash tips to each one!
They absolutely do. Everest is pay to play and the sherpas and porters are the ones who shoulder the burden
🙏🫶🏽🇳🇴 I would love to visit Nepal and meet Sherpas but I am definitely NOT climbing😅
One of the better suggestions I have heard is that to climb Everest the climber first has to climb one of the other 7-8000 meter peaks in Nepal.
Or even 2!!!
Thats a good one.
Requiring them to climb K2 first will remove 90% of these hobby-mountaineers from the Everest roster
@@thekenthouse6428 Removing them by killing them. Not sure if its the best solution. Surely worth of consideration.
K2 is much harder to climb than Mt Everest...@@thekenthouse6428
15k a climb? They should be getting 15k per CLIMBER.
I believe the $15k is for the Nepalese government issued permit (per person) to climb, this does not include all of the other expenses.
Agree, if not 20,00. I had no idea they were paid SO little! Horrible!
It has many sherpas per as the narrator said more sherpas are present on the mountain
do you guys know how much that is in nepal?
@@LanaDelReysBabe Enough to support your family for a year and pay to send your kids to school! Enough to compensate you for risking your life going back and forth over the ice falls. Enough for dealing with obnoxious tourists who have no business on the mountain. Enough to furnish them the best warm clothes and safety equipment to bring them home to their family’s. Enough for physically hauling some spoiled “Karen” to the top and listening to her moan and grown “Help me, I can’t do it” for days straight.
Enough to go back up the mountain is a blizzard to try and save your backside.
It’s exactly for people like you that decent compensation
is needed for the Sherpas and those carry all you crap up the mountain!! 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
In my opinion Sherpas are the real unsung heroes and the only ones I really respect.
They don't need respect though. They need to be lifted out of poverty so they aren't forced to do an incredibly dangerous job for rich fucks who treat them as disposable.
@@theagreen204and the sherpas could careless if irvine and malroy died
@@theagreen204 The evidence indicates they most probably did make it and were on their way down when disaster struck.
In my opinion you saw one or two youtube documentaries and binged them over and over so many times you're even using words from the title of the documentary
@@idkgg9588 you care so much about a witful comeback that you defeated the purpose
There is a film about the year the Sherpas went on strike and one of the rich climbers actually asked if his expedition leader could find out who they “belonged to” to get them to stop the strike. So the rich climbers don’t see the Sherpas as people, more like the yaks which are also used to carry stuff up to base camp.
Typical rich snob behaviour lol, doesn't matter the race it's same elitist behaviour everywhere
More likely, they assumed which organization, union or company they were with, but yeah, you're probably not too far off.
Id like to see the film if you remember the name of it.
@firstbloood1 untrue. I know some rich people. Some are arrogant, some are no different than 90% of the pop in terms of attitude. My neighbor, a plumber living in the edges of town partied with plenty of Hollywood stars when he did work in Malibu, and many of them were regular people (not all of them obv)
Sadly, from all the videos online it's obvious that they don't see Sherpas as Human beings..
Sherpas are real heros..They saved a lot of people meanwhile they lost their lives in the process guiding....I salute for their service
When I hear the word sherpa, I would think of a big shaggy dog of some kind.
Sherpas deserve a rate increase to $30,000 and beyond, considering the dangers, risks, and labor involved. Western and European climbers often rely on them without proper compensation, exploiting their expertise for personal gain. It's time for significant action to be taken by the Mount Everest Sherpa community.
Totally agree $4000 is insanely low for what they are doing, each climber should have to pay **at least** $4000 each to the sherpa leading their expedition.
@@ed1658great question, I see a lot of incorrect figures that people made up from their own ideas of life in Nepal, so I did the research and the math, bc I'm also interested. So, in detail, this is the situation...ahem...
the average yearly salary for Nepal in USD is around 7400, (in Nepal's rupees around 965,000.) Sherpas have a lower than average yearly salary even though they earn "a lot" per climb, each climb is well over a month long and climbing season is only 3 months per year. The average sherpa makes between $4000-5000 USD per year. The western born guides they work beside earn around $50,000usd total for those same climbs. Top sherpas only make around $10,000usd for the season, just under 1.5 times the Nepal average salary, despite being one of the most dangerous jobs on EARTH.
For further clarity, the average yearly US salary is about 60,000. So for the top sherpas it's like making $85,000/year in the US.
And for the average sherpa,it's living in the US making between $33,000 -41,000 a year. Sherpas work somewhere with a death rate of 1 in every 6 per climb, for tourists who are spending 10x their annual salary on a single vacation where the goal is to get a selfie taken up high.
@ed1658 I wonder if the pay is up front? I see a lot of people blaming those to female.clients who died in avalanches for the deaths of their sherpas as if sherpas aren't the ones leading the clients. Do Sherpas lose their pay if they refuse to continue to the summit due to danger?
@@gibsonlk93 $4000 is about 2 years worth of salary in my country, depending on their economy it might not be that low.
yeah and your people dont have to climb 8 thousand metres above sea level , where avalanche happen every day , there's no actual path, landslides happen every hour and , once you make a path next day it will be covered with snow , @@uruloki2758
10% cut is crazy, should be 50% or they can get together to setup their own union/agency focusing primarily on Everest climbing.
What could convince the Sherpas to do that? Literally, the climbers cannot live without the Sherpas!
My guide last year has climbed Everest 8 times and runs his own company taking people up. He was much cheaper than anything you'll find online. If you visit the Everest Region, don't book a guide beforehand - you can easily find a local guide in Lukla or Namche for a fraction of the price, and you know 100% of the money goes to them. Also - if you haven't been, I highly recommend it. It's such a special part of the world.
@@ghaznavidthat sounds like quite an expensive gamble 🤣
lol an expensive gamble is inexperienced guide and paying full price. @@DirtyDirkDiggler
It would be an expensive and long process but I totally agree. There’s way too much risk involved for them to be being payed what they are currently. I just don’t know how that could happen
I'm sure the mountain will still be full if people paid $500,000. Make them pay that much, and pay the sherpas $100k per climb. For the amount of risk they take and the effort and skill.
No
I think 20k usd is too low though
@kindred3259: I heard Sherpa’s make 3x the annual income of Americans (compared to their economy). All they need to do is close the mountain for a year and pay Sherpa’s to clean the mountain but they won’t.
EXACTLY. Sherpas deserve $100k per trip. Let that price point weed out the inexperienced “climbers” of that doesn’t, 200k
@@letsgobrandon7297isn’t that saying well slave labor in china is ok because those slaves make more than the average Chinese citizen?
I hope there is an incoming documentary on highly experienced sherpas and their childhoods. Climbers such as lhakpa Rita Sherpa, who has climbed Everest 18 times and his brother, Kami Rita Sherpa, the current record holder for the most summit of Everest. I know Lhakpa personally and its sad to see that he doesn't get the media coverage that he truly deserves by the western world.
I’m 😊😊
He is a hero and an absolute champion. All sherpa are treasures.
Absolutely agreed. I don't see why people in the west (not limited to the west actually) are so infatuated with the idea of climbing the mt Everest, when in reality there's a good group of people who do this yearly for the SAKE of the people who want to claim that title. Sherpas deserve all the respect. Mount Everest deserves peace from the abuse it undergoes too. The mountain is sacred and too many people with their personal desires try to conquer it. Above all, I would like to see sherpas being kept safe, like Wangchu said, too many sherpas have lost their lives and the only reason he returns is because there's still people who want to conquer the mountain that he feels responsible for. I recently saw a post in a Nepali facebook group of a mother who lost her son (12 years, I think illness) and they had planned to take on mount Everest with the family, which she still wanted to do as a commemoration. Although the thought may be well-intended, I cannot fathom why you would do such a thing with such young children, personally. And after losing a child, why risk your own life? Maybe go to base camp and just appreciate the mountain's grace from below. It may suffice. Wangchhu said he would not think of sending his children up there -- the risk is real. Why do people not hear it from those who've seen it all. Wish sherpa voices would be highlighted more in this case.
Maybe you could write a book with him ?????
Netflix should do this.
Sherpas not only guide and support climbers but also shoulder the responsibility of carrying hefting loads heavier than those they guide also performing emergency rescues, showcasing their extraordinary commitment to ensuring the safety and success of mountain expeditions. Despite these vital roles, they often face inadequate compensation and recognition.
For the country that they’re in, they get paid plenty. And being a Sherpa is a noble job to have. Not sure where you’re coming up with your conclusions.
ai generated
stupidest thing i've read this week. and i see a lot of dumb shit on the internet. do better, will.@@willbart1236
@@willbart1236did you watch the video? They only get a small cut he literally says “it’s really hard” when talking about money and making a living as a guide
@@willbart1236
Lol, did you watch the video? The guides only get one to two climbs *a year.* which means that they earn less than minimum wage if you divide the money over the entire year.
These Sherpas are incredible athletes! Imagine with their heart/lung capacities their potential in marathons or other endurance events.
they are genetically different than the rest of us, I forget what exactly. But over the years they have become almost super human as the traits get passed down that make them perfect for climbing the mountain
1:12 Buddy is getting the sherpa to put his harness on, then proceeds to put his Half Dome on backwards overtop of his headlamp. That's how you know some people just shouldn't be climbing Everest. It amazes me how skilled these sherpas need to be to get these types of people to the summit and back safely.
Technically the helmet backwards is at 1:19. Good catch though! At 3:30 the guy is finally wearing the helmet correctly.
It's pretty funny how those types of people don't get any experience elsewhere such as the Alps, Rockies before attempting Everest.
@@philipthecow As someone from Nepal living in Rockies(Colorado) and avid climber of 14er, there is nothing in alps and Rockies that would equal those offered by Himalayas. the only place apart of Himalayas where one can practice is in Andes in south america
Well noticed!
@@sumitshresth There's plenty of stuff in the Rockies / Alps that would help prepare you for the Himalayas. Sure, Himalayan elevation can't be matched but there are plenty of technical climbs in snow in lower elevation mountain ranges. It's like biking before you get on a motorbike.
@@philipthecow as usual being dismissive of the 'locals' , well, just because. Reminds me of the lady who assumed that hauling an 18kg backpack up and down the stairs of her apartment block in Canada was enough practise. Needless to say, shes one of the many bodies encased in ice up on the Everest.
Money is trash these days. Those guys who are rich enough and going up for their egos should splash as much as needed to support the sherpas
Agreed, why not just buy a load sports car to stroke your ego instead like everyone else 😅 safer and more fun imo
not all of them are rich. Many are also just enthusiasts of climbing and have to get sponsors or work for multiple years while living from as little as possible to be able to pay for these expeditions.
@@MilionarskySvet People form some crazy opinions with no research. They repeat what they hear in a video lol
@FengG0Donate to who for what? Would you like to donate some money to me so I can live out my dreams?
Unpopular opinion, those guys who spend millions on a fancy cars and houses, couldn't they just buy a modest car or house that satisfies their needs to live a good life and give away the rest of the money to the needy so they can make ends meet ? same shit here
I think the Sherpas are so amazing! Look how they honor the mountain and remember to respect mother nature.
They were doing this forever their bodies have evolved living in this environment!
also trashing the Everest with the rich climbers yikes
The Sherpa from the 2008 K2 incident said it best when he said they paid the sherpas and then behave as if they own the Sherpas like. He was referencing when the climbers forced the Sherpas to climb back up K2 to try and rescue people with regard to their own wellbeing and not the Sherpas
If you don't respect the Sherpa, you don't respect the mountain. And that leads to disaster.
It's like when people don't listen to fishermen or life guards regarding the sea.
Are you talking about the Sherpa who got killed going back to look for a relative Sherpa with the trapped Korean climbers?
Sherpas don’t live and work in Pakistan thus they were not Sherpa.
There are porters on K2, but they are generally Pakistani, not Sherpas, who are a Tibetan/Nepali ethnic group.
Let's be a bit accurate here: noone can "force" anyone to climb back up.
This seems like a pretty obvious supply and demand issue. With the record demand, the cost is obviously too low, especially with the decreasing supply of Sherpas willing to do the work. They should increase the price WAY more than they are. Enough people will still pay the much higher price, and it will likely slightly reduce the traffic on Everest. AND give the Sherpas a much bigger cut. AND set clear boundaries that the Sherpas must be treated a certain way as they are GUIDES not SLAVES.
Yea they need a union.
Plus the rich people who can still afford it will appreciate that it’s even more exclusive than before. Which is a crappy reason but important for someone like that.
I was thinking the same. Cull the crowd with dramatic fee increase
But then the average REAL climber, would never be able to
true but it's still over 100k which sadly makes it out of reach financially for the normal person
It should cost a minimum of $250,000 per person to climb Everest. $100,000 of that fee should go towards the sherpa.
No that's absurd
The adventurer you're referring to is most likely Göran Kropp, a Swedish mountaineer and cyclist nicknamed "The Crazy Swede" for his daring feats. In 1996, he embarked on an epic journey, cycling 13,000 kilometres from Sweden to Nepal, summiting Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, and then cycling back home. This incredible expedition cemented his reputation as an extreme adventurer.
@rainaflores779 no, it's Sagarmatha
@@rainaflores779 why do you keep referring to it by it's Tibetan name instead of its Nepalese name? Are you Chinese?
@@conor1821Chomolungma is the local name and they should have kept it that way because it was named Sagarmatha only after its height was known and Everest isn’t even a local name. This is also disrespect to Sherpas who live near that mountain.
@@prabint7487 ah I thought Sagarmatha was just the commonly accepted Nepalese name for the mountain and chomolungma was the Tibetan name for it.
@@rainaflores779 Sounds like a disease
"I've got a very good sherpa and he carries a lot" says everything I need to know about every single person on that mountain. LOL
At least he was flat out honest, and modest about it, saying he carried 10 kilos, when the Sherpa carried 30.
The vast majority of people who climb Everest won't admit this.
@@PhilAndersonOutside There are about 200 people who have climbed Everest without supplemental O2, and most likely less than a dozen who have done it without Sherpas and O2. Out of thousands!
@@chek6303Nobody has climbed everest without a Sherpa, it's impossible
@@DrrnTW It's actually happened at least once: "Lars Olof Göran Kropp (11 December 1966 - 30 September 2002) was a Swedish adventurer and mountaineer, the first Scandinavian to climb Mount Everest without oxygen. He made a solo ascent of Mount Everest without bottled oxygen or Sherpa support on 23 May 1996, for which he travelled by bicycle, alone, from Sweden and part-way back."
Also these two: Reinhold Messner:
“In 1978, he made the first solo ascent of Mt. Everest the first ascent …without supplemental oxygen,…”
Jerzy Kukuczka also did it, (though not as popularly known as Messner)
Makes me think of that Sherpa Documentary on Netflix when some westerner asked of the Sherpas to the rich mountain guide business owner “who owns them?!” I couldn’t believe what I had heard to be honest.
When's the next Sherpa auction? I might buy me a few of them.
Haha!
like trading slaves.It's in the blood
Nepal's greatest treasure isn't its mountains, but it's people. I've been to the country twice - returning I thought I remembered how amazing that place is, but it exceeded even my memories. Absolutely stunning country with such amazing people.
Absolutely agree. The ladies are quite inexpensive
@@TheMerryPrangster can u please be civil dude.
News flash: 3rd world countries almost never actually have "amazing" people. That's why they're 3rd world countries. Unless you consider poor, uneducated, and criminally minded people amazing. If Nepalese are amazing then people such as Americans would be godlike.
@@TheMerryPrangster so your's mother too
@@TheMerryPrangster You Indians are everywhere .
Personally, I have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration for people with such an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit, climbing dangerous mountains repeatedly to feed their family; those Sherpas are really amazing.
That's good words put together
Shoutout to Kami Rita Sherpa, who summited Everest 28 times (as of now)!@@emffulongkumer4504
Smart and true.
Sh’amen
Well said
I was there to witness their hard work and dedication on my trip to the Base Camp back on 2019. I salute them all for their bravery and above all selfless attitude to make everything go right......
I Salute you all..........
The fact that climbers need a refresher course before goes to show how many under experienced people are going up and risk people's lives
All climbers should should take a refresher. no matter what level. No shame in that.
@freedonuts5600 I get your point, but if you're an experienced climber you should be going there with the confidence that you know you'll go up and probably don't need it. A refresher should be there if you haven't mountaineered in a while
Refresher, sure. They were also there to acclimatize to the low oxygen levels. But did you see how some of those climbers were climbing? As though this is the first hike, let alone mountain ascent that they've ever done.@@freedonuts5600
@@patrickwilliamson29 You might be an experienced climber but climbing a 85 degree rockface at 6000 m is different from climbing the same rockface aboe 8000m when your body is not getting oxygen and there are whiteout conditions. The point of base camp is to get your body to acclimatize to high altitude and the best way to do that is to actually go through the climbing actions while you wait to acclimatize. No one should just arrive at base camp and setoff. Thats how people die and rescuers trying to save them die.
Agreed. It’s a bunch of rich idiots who want to check it off their bucket list
Sooo..today i learned, those climbers who got to the top of the mountain were not just having local sherpas as their guide, but also to carry their heavy stuff. Disgusting.
That is true of the outsider and ignorance people.
Sherpas do all the hard work.
Most people who climb Everest nowadays are just rich hobbyists, they wouldn’t have a chance of making it without the sherpas.
and you didnt know that?
No one is putting a gun to the sherpas heads to force them to work as porters and guides. The have free will to choose it or not. By Nepali standards they make more than a years average salary from guiding on Everest. Nothing disgusting about it. Many are able to retire early and put their family through schooling. Higher risk in mining and building in Nepal.
Yes, porters carry all stuff and two guides per client is the norm. For even cheap climb.
Sherpa not to happy when you don't use their services.
Sherpas are in charge of setting up all the ladders and ropes needed for climbers to ascend safely. Remember that the snow-covered terrain is constantly changing due to snowfall and solar heat, and that some people are taking great risks to place safety harnesses, ropes, ladders, cylinders, and other equipment all the way from base camp to the summit. Salute to these mountain legends. 💪
i ve got an immense resspect for the sherpas but "ICEFALL DOCTORS" they are the true legends to me
Unsung heroes. Not even shown once in the video
Icefall doctors are also Sherpa though
lmao literally cool as hell (pun intended)
@@sendoh7xhuh? It wasn't shown persay but it _was_ mentioned at around 8:43.
@@TheRandomINFJ as I said, not shown, only mentioned once. Also this is my 1st time hearing about this
So excited that you're doing a series on Everest! One question, though-- "guides only work with experienced high-altitude mountaineers, a requirement of the Nepalese government." The Nepalese government requires absolutely no experience whatsoever for an Everest permit, and many low-cost operators advertise learning on the go (resulting in high rates of death for their clients). You might be confusing the Nepal side with the Tibetan side. The Chinese government requires any Chinese citizen attempting the Tibetan side to have already summited an 8000-meter peak, and any foreign national to have summited a 7000-meter peak. The lack of requirement for experience on the Nepal side, driven by the government's dependence on permit fees, is a major contributor to the rising death rates we've seen in recent seasons.
You misunderstood dingus. 🤦 They said that the GUIDES all have to be experienced mountaineers, not the clients paying to summit. And there were a MILLION context clues around that section making that about as explicit as it gets. Is English a second language for you or something??? O_o Because you're kinda struggle busing. 🤷 (As well as the 61 and counting people that also seem to have skipped English class.)
@@Cooe. The video does refer to mountaineers needing experience and then refers to guides, making it clear that guides refers to the Sherpas. The words they used are guides only work with experienced high-altitude mountaineers, a requirement of the Nepalese government. They do not say that guides have to be experienced high-altitude mountaineers.
@@Cooe. What's with the name calling? Why are you being mean? What's with "second language" condescending question? Did you have a bad child upbringing? (I'm being like you with your questions; did you see that?). So I'll continue to be like you so you can understand your TONE and APPROACH. Did you have a bad upbringing because you seem angry, holding all this pent up negativity for no reason. Are you in a bad place emotionally right now? Because your entire paragraph seems like an angry teenager that never got his way and so you have this armchair superior self righteous attitude. So take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself, why was I so explosive in my reply to someone who had a legitimate question about a documentary that had nothing to do with me as a person. Think about that...............
I wonder how the Chinese government verify you've climbed a 7000/8000 peak before? 😄
@@justadude8369 I'm not too sure about this but I believe that whenever you summit or climb a mountain of such height, it's recorded in the local govt. Your name is written down to track and trace you, also in case when you go missing and the likes, they can trace who went up the mountain and when. But not sure how all this is communicated to other govts! maybe you receive some paper yourself as proof as well. idk
Bless the BRAVE STRONG SHERPAS who are the HEROS of the Mountain. Thanks to all Sherpa .
Props to whoever filmed this because they also had to deal with all the elements the sherpas dealt with
meh,they used sherpas just like climbers,sticking cameras on them,paying them in pennies
I have the utmost respect and admiration for the Sherpas of Mount Everest. Their unparalleled expertise in navigating the treacherous terrain, their strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment to their craft are truly awe-inspiring.
If it is only one climb per season, these Sherpas should be making like $20k. If one has enough money to climb the mountain, they have enough money to pay the guides considerably more.
If I were a climber I most deffinitly would pay my Sherpa more than 10,000. If you can pay 100,000 for the whole, than a bit more doesn't matter. Your Sherpa carries so much of your stuff, he leads the way and he is also in danger every time he climbs. So for his family left behind, I would pay at least 20,000.
There are two Sherpa. Usually. Plus an army of porters.
These two Sherpa get a lot of cash, bonuses etc. I say over 5000 usd if client goes to the top. They are not underpaid at all. And this is for cheap climb 45k. For 100k climb they maybe make 10k each.
@@tomk3732aha....they are not underpayed.....??🤨🤥🤥 Would you climb and risk your life for this, if you had a family behind?
@@irisgallati Sure, I climb and I even pay for it.... getting someone else to pay? Wonderful.
Oh, in case you are wondering, on one of my trips I had spare days after a summit. I could have do some porting - moving stuff for people. Local porters threatened me with a knife... So don't t think these guys will give up their jobs anytime soon ;)
@@tomk3732I have been reading and watching plenty of mountaineering stuff and I was also wondering this underpayment thing. I think it’s kind of need to make them to look like victims even though low salaries are normally in local companies and if you are employed by a good Western company you are paid well for high quality guidance.
they are not underpaid, they make huge money for the region they live in. it would be the equivalent of 6 figures and only having to work seasonally. @@irisgallati
If it wasn’t for Sherpas Mount Everest still wouldn’t be conquered. The Sherpas are the ones who summit every year and not those who do it for social media. All we do is leave litter and bugger up the mountain. 👍🇿🇦
So true. They’re the ones setting up the ropes and ladders, trying to forge a path, before any official hike up the mountain happens. They’re the ones that goes ahead of everyone else at earlier times, often when the weather isn’t at its peak for perfect climbing, and they set up everything just so people going up would even know where to go…
They’re the ones cleaning up base camps and setting it all up just so a bunch of ego-fueled people with deep pockets can come in and litter it with waste (both trash and human waste). They even do rituals for those going up to bless them and protect them while asking for forgiveness for climbing the mountain. They risk so much and put a lot on the line with their beliefs just to feed their families and give them some form of stability.
The way Everest has become a tourist zone like this anymore is just downright depressing.
I appreciate this video. Sherpas are often dehumanized in the world of mountaineering. This video really brought them to life. They deserve better.
So let me make this clear; the whole expedition costs over a 100k and the Sherpas are only getting paid 4.5k - 10k?! That means you are only paying 5-10% of your cost to the Sherpas who are the single most important factor that will help you survive over there. These guys are horribly underpaid and exploited. I truly hope the Sherpa people get opportunities to live a dignified life other that to serve as baby sitters for these grown ass rich assholes.
Yep, and this may be a pretty controversial hot take on my end, but on top of better pay for Sherpas, I also personally believe people paying all this money to go should also start tipping them. Yes, tipping.
Not measly little US diner tipping, but “thanks for protecting me and guiding me” tipping that’ll help these Sherpas have SOME money to themselves that isn’t largely taken by the government.
I know it’s a western/US thing to do, but why not show gratitude towards someone risking their life for your little Everest vacay?
Needs be something that becomes common amongst people; that they know by instinct that it should be done anymore to make it a common practice among tourists going to such a dangerous place where others are putting their life on the line to guide you.
Make it be something as common as tipping a waitress at a diner in the US if you feel they served you well, helping someone up when they fall, holding a door open for someone walking in behind you, letting an elderly person walk ahead of you in through a door, getting out of the left lane if you’re holding up traffic and not going above the speed limit, tipping someone extra for squeezing you in for a hair appointment last minute, pulling off on the side of the road in the US when passing a funeral procession, turning your bright lights off at night when passing another vehicle … etc etc etc - stuff that is commonly known as common courtesy.
Tipping Sherpas needs to be just that: common courtesy; something commonly known amongst anyone going up the mountain to just do.
I mean, the way I see it is if people are going pay big money to climb a mountain to treat them like bellhops at a hotel where they carry your shite for you to the top and set everything up for you, then tip them - and they should tip them good for something this dangerous. Even a couple hundred bucks their way would help in these instances, or hell even a crisp 50 would be _something_ … because IMO, if you can afford to go on a trip to Everest and you have the luxury to spend several weeks acclimating to the climate with no worry about a job or such back home, then there is no excuse for it. You have money and privilege to show gratitude in such a manner.
They’ve earned to get a tip because the government isn’t really giving them much to begin with and it’s the very LEAST someone can do, but the way I’ve heard from some is that when they _are_ tipped by people … it’s basically a few dollars here and there. Most people don’t even bother because they don’t see it as something they should do, thinking “well they get paid to do this; it’s not my job to give them anything” while dismissing how they get scraps in comparison to the amount paid out. That way of thinking needs to go out the door because it’s pathetic.
Now, imagine if it was common courtesy to tip them amongst everyone going up. I know people will rant and rave about tipping culture being out of hand and vehemently disagree, but this is one of those instances where I think it genuinely should be a common practice among climbers because right now … they get next to nothing when you look at the numbers. If every climber tossed a bit their way into a pot and it be divided (considering how many go yearly, it could honestly be a lot), it could really help them feel more appreciated. Even if it’s just a few hundred bucks, because right now they basically just get litter and human waste that tourists leave for them to clean up in return. That’s their “gratitude” outside of the government hoarding all the profits.
Like I said, I know most won’t agree with that take, but it’s where I am at anymore when it comes to the topic of Everest and it being a tourist hotspot in a country where the average income is scraps in comparison to the people paying to climb it. Tack on how being a Sherpa is honestly the best paying job they have (which speaks volumes considering how much they’re paid), it could really make a big difference if it became common.
It's like when "essential" workers still had to work in person in the pandemic but got no pay raise for the additional risk they were facing. "Essential" in this context carries the connotation of "disposable." Yes the Sherpas are essential to the tourism industry, but the people in power decided that as long as there is a supply of Sherpas then why should they go out of their way to take care of them? Especially since the Sherpa are basically uneducated rural people? It's the same kind of logic.
@@TwoBs Nice profile pic. I like that art a lot
Perhaps the best thing that might happen for the future of Everest mountaineering would be for the likes of Nirmal Purja and other Sherpas to assume control of the management of expeditions, beyond just the laborious functions. It is their backyard, they are highly skilled, and they have the greatest vested interest in the future of Everest. See “Fourteen Peaks”.
I pray for that young gentleman, that his dreams come true but he also stays safe. 🙏
Beautifully filmed, and very pleasant narration. I have hiked close to base camp in the mid-‘80s, and was astounded by how many tourists there were, and so impressed with the locals.
sherpas should be paid 10 time what they're making for risking their lives and keeping climbers safe. only fair
All they have to do is refuse to work for less.
They are super well paid. They are richest people in their village. There is zero chance this is about to change as 95% of people cannot do it without hand holding.
All market driven. They could ask more.
@@tomk3732 super well paid? I doubt it. even people who collect garbage in the west are paid better. and saying richest in their village is like saying YOU are the smartest in your family lol doesnt say much eh tommy boy
The sherpas know exactly what they're doing. They set the price themselves. If they can raise the price and earn a better income, they would have already done so.
The Sherpas are very special guys.
Even if it does make the trek more expensive to achieve for non-professional climbers, it is going to be absolutely worth it. Those mountain guides ought to be compensated adequately for paving the way on such a deadly part of this world so that others can experience it.
They are. Best paid job in Nepal.
I wonder how many people would reach the summit without any sherpas helping them carry all the bagage ?
Close to none
We will know in the coming years.
If Nepal doesn't pay them what they are owed(multiple times what they are paid now) then as the current sherpas say, there won't be any. And with no sherpas there will be no summits, and with no sherpas there will be a huge tourism decline. Nepal is shooting itself in the foot with its current greed.
@@lemonnade5974 it doesn't matter who they hire, sherpas are literally the most vital part of the entire system. If they aren't getting paid for their work, then there's little reason to do it unless they love it.
All I'm saying is that it's ridiculous that it costs so much to hire them, but none of the money goes to them.
And it's even more ridiculous since they have a low cost of living and still struggle. Like what percentage do they get paid? Because it's not enough.
@@lemonnade5974 sherpas can do 2 or 3 times as much as most people. There aren't many groups of people in the world who could do anything like them.
Anyone else out there would need significantly more people and people who go to work there will be way way more expensive.
The only point I'm trying to make is that they should be paid at least enough to be out of poverty and that it's ridiculous. There's no argument here.
there's people that climb harder, more technical peaks that sherpas wouldn't even be able to do let alone jug fixed line
I can’t express enough the Mad Respect that I have for this Man… very intelligent to show respect to the mountain.
The Nepalese government's requirement of experience before Everest is a joke, simply because it's not effective. It doesn't require any actual technical capability, only that you had to have summited 6500m or higher in Nepal. Basically, it's revenue focused rather than capabilities focused. The video clearly shows some folks who don't even have basic skills in climbing with crampons. The fact that there were more permits issued sort of shows that the requirements are a joke, especially since there's no ramifications because there aren't any actual enforcement procedures to prove a client met the previous summit requirement.
CORRECTION: IT IS CALLED MOUNTAIN CHOMOLUNGMA
Yes it's a joke. People hike like Mera peak 😂
I was under the impression that it was more about deterring people who aren't actually mountaineers and are doing just Everest as a one-off for bragging rights
@@ss-ds2dn Nothing much is done as you say - in fact opposite - Nepal wants total beginners as they are likely to fail and will try again --- more $$$$
Its all about $$$$.
@@tomk3732 yikes. Sounds like the sherpas sending their kids to school is the best way to break the cycle
Beautiful documentary and such an important topic. Thank you for this! I love mountaineering docs but so often guides are treated as secondary characters instead of stars, I love the refocus here on the immense expertise and courage they have. And the inequity in mountaineering. They deserve so much more.
That porter at the end was so cute and had a beautiful smile on his face and was very happy. I hope he fulfills all his dreams someday. Such hard work, I commend their ethics and hard work. They need to make a lot more money.
I found the most infuriating part that some companies offer the sherpas 1500 after a successful ascent.
Not only does that incentivize sherpas to keep climbing even in not so favorable conditions but it means that should they die and leave there family behind they pay them less and leave the family with less. When they should be taken care of fully by the tourists or government. No words.
Im amazed at the Sherpas ability to carry heavy loads with such grace in such extreme conditions.
It's actually not that hard. 2-3 years of training and you'll do same. I'm not sherpa, not even training much, but still capable to gracefully hike on 4500-ish with 30 kilo backpack.
If it’s not that hard why do all of the climbers need sherpas help to carry all their shit 😂
@@lol32scbw 30 kilo? Thats it? I do 10000 jumping jacks wearing 80 kilo vest before breakfast just to warm up my muscles. Its very easy, im suprised you struggle with 30
@@Dempig No kidding. 30 kilo is my normal. 33-35 is when it becomes hard (and my backpack starts squeaking in a dying manner). Couple of years ago it was like 25 as normal and 30 as very-very hard. When I started backpacking it was 15/20. It's all about adaptation to body tension and obtaining balance to do only necessary movement under heavy load. It's more technical then you think. Grace is actually means good technique. I can give some advices. First, backpack belt should be lower and straps more loose. Second your poles must be shorter to reduce unneeded shoulders movements. For my 185cm it's about 115cm (on moderate steep terrain). I actually never set my poles above 120cm. Poles are never far ahead of your toes. You're pushing forward by poles, not hanging on them.
@@juliapuertas6769 when you have a possibility not to carry shit at all it's superhard to carry even a small amounts of it. Pretty understandable. But you can see russian expeditions carrying all the shit on their own because they always haven't enough money.
These people deserve more respect and more money
I would love coverage of an experience like this solely via perspective of and with interviews of the Sherpas.
There is a documentary that you can see on youtube called 'SHERPAS · True Heroes of Mount Everest · Documentary'. It's very interesting.
The last young man, Rai, I hope he becomes a world reknowned mountain climber "a guest" as they refer to them and not one of the guides. THAT would be lovely. With an expedition company if he wanted that for himself. Good luck, young man! Many fortunes!
The fact there is an Everest tourist industry at all shows the level of crazy the world has got to. These amazing people risking their lives so rich people can have fancy instagram photos. Sickening.
They're risking their lives for a paycheck, not out of good will. There is a huge difference.
The job of a moutain guide is to guide or drag up a client to the top and make sure that he/she is safe. That's universal on mountains around the world (Alps, Himalaya, ...). Nowhere in the world mountain guides earn as much (compared to the local average) as in the Himalayan mountains. Part of the job is, that the mountain guides are usually not mentioned. When you don't like this, you are wrong in this busines.
There are several prorblems, the biggest being them letting anyone with money climb the mountain, that puts the sherpas in much greater danger, and the second problem is the amount of garbage left on the mountain, in 10 years it will be more like a visit to the local landfil.
Sherpa will never move a finger unless paid for it.
If only experienced climbers were allowed sherpa would have no job.
@@tomk3732that’s a bit unfair and racist.
The solution to the first is to insist anyone who attempts Everest has first climbed a 7,000m mountain. This will give them experience, and also bring more $$$ to Nepal (presuming the climber/tourist attempts the 7,000m peak in Nepal). This could be done in a single season if timed right, plus help with acclimatization, or it could be done in back-to-back years just as easily. This would also increase the safety for everyone.
Most modern paying climbers are wealthy enough to not blink at the cost of this.
@@PhilAndersonOutside They did that in China - but they want 8000m mountain. And they saw decrease in traffic as it is hard to do in single season. Pretty much impossible.
As to your 7000er - yeah its sort of possible - I assume many people doing Everest do say Mera peak or Island or Lobuche as acclimatization step. It gives them zero extra experience or next to zero.
Chinese idea is what is needed.
But all 8000ers are cheaper than Everest - idea is if you fail you try expensive Everest again. So more $$$$ for Nepal.
@@tomk3732 so stay in your country, sit in your country never see about our mt.Everest.. you don't have any rights to talk about Nepal mount everest
Honestly the camera man/woman for this channel needs a raise coz what?!
Yeah it's a man are you surprised
The level of overcrowding on the mountain and over commercialization is very disturbing. Everest is held sacred by the Sherpas and is an incredibly beautiful place. It is sad how many of the Sherpas have been exploited and have not been given the recognition they deserve.
The sherpas should be paid more than anyone else on the climbing expedition
precisely!🙂
Back in 1988 I was part of a team to teach Sherpas ropework, ice, snow craft in Colorado with the Outward Bound School. Dawa Sherpa, hoka hey!!
That's quite rad awesome cool
Those who are really wanting to conquer the Everest.
please be aware of every possible aspects out there in Everest.
And yes, this video is one of the most educational videos I've ever seen.❤
omg the guy who went to base camp by heli is exactly the kind of people that shouldnt go...
Also I'm worried that someone is learning how to ascend a rope at base camp. I don't understand if they allow these level of inexperience in the summit push
They have an overabundance of hubris, what could possibly go wrong at 8,500 meters. Maybe that rich helicopter guy can hire 4 Sherpas and they can carry him up the mountain in a palanquin. The girl gives off social media influencer vibes.
I believe it’s a pretty popular option mostly done so by tourists who do not wish to even summit.
yeah, alot of people who go don't even know fundamental aid climbing skills like jugging, on the easiest terrain for jugging too!
Going to camp in helis isn’t bad. Just ask Nimsdae
@on3232 funny part is he made so much money leeching off of the achievements with all the sponsors, documentaries, businesses he has made from that one documentary where he now owns a helicopter with his name written all over it, small planes/gliders going around the himalaya, a skydiving company for himalayan skydiving.. seems like more of an entrepreneur than an actual 'mountaineer'
Wow 16 summits? That's absolutely insane
That Sherpa should be a motivational speaker, not any of these wealthy status seekers
Respecting the mountain is EXTREMELY important. I'm really glad the Sherpa don't take it lightly either.
Gurkhas are some of the most tenacious fighters and the Sherpas are the best climbers. All from one small country!
Excellent video, and a big surprise on a site like Business Insider. The footage is also amazing, (sure, you can give a few Gopros to Sherpas and collect at the end, but much more great footage has been taken here.
These men are truly amazing, and do seem to be a dying breed. Nat Geo also did an excellent video, Unsung Here's of Everest.
I spent a couple days with an Everest / Chomolungma Sherpa, they seem to have nerves of steel, can handle crazy elements, have an unwavering sense of duty / responsibility, and are caring, gentle people (giants).
No amount of money in the world would motivate me to climb Everest. Those crevasses alone are terrifying. Imagine if that ladder fell. That's it. You're stuck in a crevasse on Mount Everest.
The whole thing is melting more each year.
you took the words out of my mouth
A really insightful focus here. If the mountaineering industry on Everest is finally confronted with skilled Shepa guides are deciding not to train the next generation of guides, because the risks outweigh the the compensations, and they value better education and more options for their kids, maybe the Everest climb will lift up those who most support that dangerous pursuit, allowing the few who are truly willing to take risks to make a great deal of money. It ought to always have been so. They do the useful things on the mountain, including rescuing people, most. For anyone else, it's mostly about an experience and bragging rights about skill-level and symbolic importance. With so much real danger to human life and welfare on the line for abstractions we could just as well attach to some more practically useful work in the world, climbers should be funding the self-actualization of the entire Himalayan Sherpa people, if they want to survive Everest. Otherwise, what does it all really stand for?
I have the upmost respect for sherpas. In my opinion they should get at least triple what they get given what they do for climbing teams. It's their efforts that allow people to achieve their goals.
maybe they should unionize
Thanks for the Sharing reality of Mountain guides.
Thanks for giving them a platform to share their experience & thought.
Subscribed for more videos that show reality.
I have so much respect for these guys. I now understand what Sherpas do especially when I watched 14 Peaks on Netflix. Not an easy livelihood and also not that of good pay.
The Sherpas who has climbed and made it to the top 14 times is amazing!
One has 29 times Kami Rita
It's beautifully, but I'll pass and just live vicariously through anyone else who posts videos of their trips there.
I live in Nepal but climbing Everest is not in my bucket list. 🤷🏻♀️
In 10 years the base camp will be a hotel and there will be electric stairs and drones that will take you to the top.
As long as people are willing to pay, people will risk their life to take care of their family
Currently reading Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Learning a lot about the Everest business and sherpas!
Are you enjoying Krakauer's book? Into Thin Air is on my bucket-list to read after watching the 2015 'Everest' film, which I thought was excellent and a sobering take on the 1996 climb disaster. As a visual medium, the film can only pack so much into its runtime, of course.
@@beeman2075 I’m about halfway through and yes it’s been very enjoyable! He has a very engaging prose and writing style. I’m usually not a non-fiction reader but his stuff is as intriguing as fiction.
@@sigh7310 "No big deal Harold, much ado about nothing!"
Thank you internet stranger
@@sigh7310 Thanks for your feedback on Krakauer's writing style, and good to hear he has an engaging writing style.
Some 25 years after the first summit of Mt. Everest I had the incredible good fortune of shaking my childhood hero's hand (Sherpa Tenzing). Huge respect. Not so much for thrill and ego seekers who couldn't come close to the summit without substantial assistance.
Amazing production! thanks!
It's always the movies/news are about western people who "climb" or died there, sherpas are never on the spotlight,
They are treated just as equipment it's sad and government make their pockets full,
I hope Nepalese people have better opportunities in a near future.
Congrats, Lauren. This is very very badass! 🙌 Thanks for sharing your experiences on the Hexatrek 💪💪
I know phurba from another video on yt climbing everest like 42 days on Ryan mitchell channel. He's good sherpa.
Great video...these Sherpa's earn every dime they make and deserve much more compensation for the risk they're taking.
Thanks for watching!
With gopros and social media influencers, there is going to be no slowing the demand for guides.
But what about the supply?
Wow. That sherpa carried dude back like he was a backpack. Hero right there.
I feel lucky that I have climbed Everest. I was lucky and got to do it in one attempt. It took us 11 weeks in total from the very start. It wasn't as cold as I thought it would be at the top, and something people don't show often is the bodies left behind that are used as markers, and the flags left at the summit. The most terrifying part is crossing a crevasse and you can see that some can go several hundred feet down. One of my group's Sherpa guides was incredibly friendly. He blessed each and every one of us, despite us not sharing his beliefs. I actually left most of what I did not need to take home with some Sherpas to either sell for some extra money or to use themselves. If I were to do it again, and I am definitely not going back, I would personally pay my Sherpa guides more.
Edit: spelling errors.
I assume that these expedition companies are paying off the Nepalese government to make sure they have a monopoly on it. No way they will allow sherpas to directly do it themselves.
4:34 - This little "No...the other hand!" moment might seem insignificant, but will most likely save your life when shit hits the fan.
Crazy - they learn the 1+1 of mountaineering on their way to everest :D
I don't think permits to ascend to the peak or go beyond base camp should even be issued.
I couldn't agree more. The amount of trash these visitors leave behind is disgusting.
@@whoopsydaisy6389 I think the garbage is a shame, but that's not a reason to ban climbing the mountain. It's an epic feat of athleticism, it's arguably the hardest physical challenge a human can achieve. Something that insanely intense shouldn't be kept from those who want to climb it. The laws should rather be enforced more heavily. Perhaps the government could make a clause allowing Sherpas to take not of who litters and then after the climb, give them a hefty government fine for littering. That way, Sherpas don't need to cause a scene on the mountain, and the climbers will be worried they have the eyes of sherpas watching them to see if they litter, which would discourage it.
@@muscleman125 the laws are written, enforced, and judged by the mega wealthy. what you propose is an appealing fantasy.
It is still crazy to me that people who are not properly trained and ready for climbing Everest try to do this. They just put the lives of others in danger.
By the way, there ARE independent climbers, that can really climb and even carry their own stuff.
At least on the mountain. Porting to base-camps is a different story.
True. It's somewhat rare, but true. The purist climbers perhaps are the ones not climbing the main route up Everest, or climbing in the fall season, when the window is open, but more difficult.
no. they would be using ladders and fixed ropes set by sherpas. they would have to make multiple trips up and down the camps to stash gear and supplies, summit, then make more repeated trips back up and down the camps to retrieve their equipment.
At this stage in time, 2024, anyone doing extreme altitude climbing should be prepared to carry their own gear and equipment. We have learned enough off the backs of Sherpas. The volume of people is ridiculous. It needs to be reduced to only those fit enough to carry supplies.