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The mountaineering world mourns the loss of Kanchha Sherpa, the final living participant from the monumental 1953 expedition that achieved the first successful ascent of Mount Everest. At 92, Kanchha passed away peacefully in his Kapan residence near Kathmandu. His life was a testament to the spirit of exploration and resilience, playing a critical supporting role when Everest was a formidable, untamed giant, long before it became a bustling tourist destination. His journey from a humble village to the treacherous slopes of the world's highest peak encapsulates a significant chapter in human endeavor.

A Life Forged in the Shadow of Giants: Kanchha Sherpa's Enduring Legacy

Born in 1933 in the remote village of Namche Bazaar, Nepal, Kanchha Sherpa's early life was one of struggle, with his family subsisting on potato farming and yak herding. His father, a Sherpa climber who attempted Everest in 1952, unknowingly set the stage for his son's extraordinary path. At 19, driven by necessity, Kanchha traveled to Darjeeling, India, a hub for climbers, where a fortuitous encounter with Tenzing Norgay led him to join the 1953 British expedition led by John Hunt. Despite lacking prior climbing experience, Kanchha became one of over a hundred Sherpas hired to transport essential supplies, earning a modest five rupees daily.

Kanchha's contributions as a high-altitude porter were invaluable, involving the grueling task of carrying 27kg loads of oxygen tanks, tents, and food across icy terrain and steep rock faces. He meticulously secured ropes for climbers and helped establish strategic camps, embodying the unwavering strength and positive attitude that propelled the team forward. He reached the South Col, the penultimate camp, alongside other key Sherpas and the lead climbers. From there, he awaited news as Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay embarked on their historic final push on May 29, 1953. The jubilant return of Hillary and Norgay, greeted by widespread celebration, marked a pivotal moment in history, with Kanchha and his fellow Sherpas at the heart of this triumph.

Following his pivotal role in the 1953 expedition, Kanchha continued his mountaineering career, participating in six more Everest expeditions until 1970. However, the mountain's harsh realities, including the loss of his cousin in a 1963 avalanche and six friends in another in 1970, eventually led his wife, Ang Lhakpa, to persuade him to retire. They returned to Namche, where they opened the Nirvana Home, a small inn that became a gathering place for climbers. Kanchha also dedicated himself to preserving Sherpa culture, establishing an organization to safeguard traditional songs, dances, and mountain lore. Even in his eighties, he maintained an active life, visiting distant monasteries to pray. In his later years, Kanchha expressed profound dismay at the commercialization and environmental degradation plaguing Everest, a concern highlighted by the increased trash and overcrowding depicted in media reports. He leaves behind his wife, four sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, with his funeral rites to be held in the Everest region in accordance with Sherpa traditions.

Kanchha Sherpa's passing is a poignant reminder of the incredible human spirit that fueled the early explorations of the world's highest peaks. His journey underscores the often-unsung contributions of Sherpa porters, whose resilience, knowledge, and unwavering support were, and remain, fundamental to high-altitude mountaineering. It also serves as a stark warning about the environmental impact of unchecked tourism, urging us to reflect on our responsibility to preserve these majestic natural wonders and the cultures intertwined with them. Kanchha's legacy extends beyond his expeditions; it is a call to respect both the mountains and the people who call them home.