Tenzing Norgay – Sherpa from Nepal, Mountain Guides
Tenzing Norgay was an absolutely amazing historical figure. He was a man who was completely dedicated and committed to reaching his ultimate dream. His life has been an incredibly journey that will only be briefly touched on in this short article.
On 29 May 1953 Tenzing Norgay and teammate Edmund Hillary made history when they reached the summit of Mt. Everest. It was this monumental event which brought Tenzing world fame. He received instant recognition for his unique achievement and was honored as a global diplomat for the Sherpa people.
But the story of this most exceptional man starts long before that magnificent day in 1953. Norgay was born in 1914 a time when the Sherpas people did not keep birth records. He was born in the town of Tsa-chu as one of thirteen children but did not stay in this town. Instead he was raised in a village near the border of Tibet close to Mount Everest. Despite the fact that he never learned to write he was capable of speaking seven different languages. In 1933, at the age of nineteen, he moved to India to work as a trekking porter, and this was the start of his illustrious and highly successful career.
Just two years later, in 1935, Tenzing Norgay accompanied Erik Shipton on his first expedition. He later joined the Swiss expedition in 1952 to attempt the climb of Everest where he reached 28,200 feet but never quite made it to the summit. It was only in 1953 at the age of 39 that Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mt Everest.
Tenzing Norgay was very much admired by his own people for his amazing achievement in climbing Mt Everest. The Sherpas are no strangers to the mountains they are well known for their strength and ability when it comes to climbing these mountains. History reveals that 500 years ago the Sherpa people moved from Tibet to be near the mountains of Everest which were sacred to them. They are a physically strong people and are known for their endurance and ability to cope with high altitudes. Sherpas have traditionally played a key role in climbing Everest. Today Sherpas make up one quarter of the total number of people climbing Mount Everest.
Tenzing Nogay is well known for his love of Mountaineering. It has been said that he was at his happiest while climbing. He later opened up the Himalayan Mountaineering School in Darjeeling, India. Tenzing Norgay’s grandson, Tashi Tenzing, now tells great stories about the Sherpa people and how mountaineering affected their lives. Tenzing Norgay has proved to be an admirable example to his people. His complete love and total dedication to conquer the impossible has served to inspire many.
