The Sherpas Who Build the Route to the Summit
Before any foreigner steps foot on the Mount Everest summit route, a small team of Sherpas enters the terrifying Khumbu Icefall. They are the Icefall Doctors, the unsung heroes of every Everest expedition.
Every season, the glacier moves, destroying the path. The Doctors find a new route, fixing aluminum ladders across crevasses and laying ropes. Without them, Everest trekking teams could not pass Camp 1.
They spend more time in the danger zone than anyone else. They maintain the route daily, tightening ropes and moving ladders as the ice shifts. Their bravery enables the commercial success of the Mount Everest expedition industry.
Ang Nima Sherpa led the Icefall Doctors for decades. His intuitive knowledge of the ice saved countless lives. Today, a new generation continues his legacy, guarding the gateway to the Everest summit.
When you cross a ladder in the Icefall, remember the hands that placed it there.
