The Sherpas: meet the heroes of the Himalayas

Discovering one of the Earth’s most “super” peoples

Anyone can go trekking in the Himalayas and reach what is the El Dorado for lovers of this activity: Everest Base Camp. Even those who type “how do I prepare for climbing Everest” and get Google replying, “Did you mean: train times to Lourdes?”.

Why?

Because there are the Sherpas, an extraordinary people known above all for their skill as guides on the most challenging mountain routes.

Want to know more about them? Here’s what we learned about the Sherpas from meeting them in person!

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The Sherpas’ superpowers

The Sherpas are a people originally from eastern Tibet who made the mountains of Nepal their home. Their population today is estimated at between 150,000 and 275,000, and many of them are multilingual, speaking both their mother tongue (Sherpali) as well as Nepali and other local languages.

The habit of living constantly at very high altitudes has led them to develop some remarkable characteristics. Like real superpowers — even better than Captain Planet.

Super lungs: they have enormous lungs — sorry Pavarotti — which allow them to breathe even where oxygen is particularly thin. This has made them practically immune to so-called “altitude sickness,” a condition that would knock many of us out in no time.

Super blood: okay, this power doesn’t sound all that cool, but “mega-hemoglobin” sounded even worse, and we can’t even say “ultra-oxygen-transport” in one breath without tripping over it.

Anyway, Sherpa blood is extremely rich in hemoglobin, the protein that captures oxygen and carries it throughout the body. Yet another advantage when it comes to breathing in thin air.

Super energy: some studies seem to show that Sherpas have much more efficient mitochondria than normal.

But what on earth are mitochondria?

Well, they’re basically tiny power stations inside our cells that produce energy. And the Sherpas’ are incredibly powerful! That’s why, while most of us get tired just thinking about getting up from the couch, these Himalayan locals are out climbing their mountains all the time.

Sherpas eat mountains for breakfast

Thanks to their physical traits and their skills, Sherpas are absolute masters of Himalayan climbing, the very best in the world at this activity. That’s why anyone who wants to climb Nepal’s peaks hires them as guides, to the point that the word “Sherpa” is sometimes mistakenly used as a synonym for “mountain guide,” even for people who have nothing to do with the Sherpa people themselves.

Over the years they’ve helped countless European climbers reach the highest summits in the world: one of their most famous members, for example, is Tenzing Norgay, who made history as the man who, together with Sir Edmund Hillary, conquered Everest in 1953.

And among them are many other extraordinary figures, such as Apa Sherpa and Kami Rita, who at the age of 53 has recently climbed Everest for the 28th time.

Wow — 28 times up and down nearly 9,000 meters!

Sherpa culture and society

The Sherpas are not only expert climbers of towering mountains and possessors of superpowers: they are also guardians of a fascinating culture that has so much to offer.

Most of them follow the Buddhist faith, a religion that permeates every aspect of daily life, from the colorful monasteries dotting the Himalayan landscape (absolutely stunning!) to the festivals and rituals that shape local life.

What we came to appreciate most of all during our visits to Sherpa villages in Nepal was their cohesion and their sense of community — something that, by comparison, many of us Europeans could learn a lot from. Having lived for centuries in an environment as harsh and inhospitable as the Himalayas, they developed a strong communal bond, to the point that personal prestige is not earned through money, fame, or power.

No — it is earned through the willingness to share what you have with others and to support the whole community.

In an environment where even a small mistake can be fatal, relying on one another isn’t just admirable — it’s vital.

The Sherpas are truly amazing!

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In conclusion

The Sherpas are much more than simple mountain guides: they are a people who safeguard a rich and astonishing culture, supermen and superwomen who have adapted to living in one of the most extreme environments on the planet.

They have left — and continue to leave — an indelible mark on Himalayan mountaineering. And also on the hearts of the Sto Gran Tour team, who have had the honor of coming into contact with them and their culture more than once.

How about meeting them for yourself and setting off with us on a 16-day itinerary to Everest Base Camp? Start warming up, grab your boots, and let’s go!