Apa Sherpa leaving for record-breaking 20th Mt. Everest attempt
SALT LAKE CITY — Apa Sherpa, the world record holder for climbing Mt. Everest 19 times, will leave Utah on Monday to attempt a 20th summit with the Eco Everest expedition in May.
Apa is climbing to raise money for the newly founded Apa Sherpa Foundation, a nonprofit that will use community-generated projects to increase educational and economic opportunity for the people of the remote Khumbu region of Nepal. As the team leader of the Eco Everest expedition, he will also be removing trash left on Mt. Everest from the previous climbers.
“I’m doing this to help improve the lives of the people of the Khumbu region,” Apa said.
Khumbu is home to Mt. Everest, Sagarmatha National Park, and Thame, the place where Apa was born. Its remote nature makes educational and economic opportunities scarce. When Apa was a boy, he had to walk six miles to school round trip each day. He dreamed of becoming a doctor, but when his father died he had to drop out of school and work as a porter for the mountain climbing expeditions, often carrying more than his body weight.
At 28, he summitted Mt. Everest for the first time. Since then he has reached the highest point on earth a total of 19 times. In 2006 he moved to Draper, Utah so his children could have better educational opportunities.
“I want everyone in the Khumbu to be able to have what my children have,” Apa said. “If we have education, we have choices.”
Apa’s progress will be tweeted live from base camp as he radios in with updates. Follow @apashera (http://www.twitter.com/apasherpa) and his support team at @everestclimb (http://www.twitter.com/everestclimb ). Updates will also be posted on the website: http://www.apasherpa.com.
Apa would also like to thank his sponsors: SD7 Technology Group, Eddie Bauer / First Ascent, Suunto, Hot Chillys, Bohemian Brewery, Travel Host Magazine, Bio Metrics / Diamond Mold, Solarus Lending, Hoops Vision.
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