The guides that assist mountaineering hopefuls up the savage slopes of Mount Everest are known as Sherpas. They are experts of the rugged terrain and can navigate the various challenges, all while carrying luggage. It’s a hard, dangerous job.
Recently, a Sherpa went missing and was presumed dead. On his descent, he lost contact with the rest of his group, and search teams began the hunt for the missing man. He was last seen above Camp 3, at around 7,500m.
However, after multiple days, there was still no sign of the guide. Search teams had all but given up hope. The mountain is cold, there is little in the way of shelter, and conditions aren’t favourable to the lost and exposed.
But, against all odds, six days later, Dawa Sherpa was spotted by a cleaning crew. He had managed to make his way down past two camps and almost back to base camp.
A Brutal Descent
Dawa Sherpa had refused to give up on his solo descent, passing Camp 3, Camp 2, and Camp 1 before finally arriving at the Khumbu Icefall just above base camp. They noticed an experienced climber sliding his way down the ice towards the camp.
The 52-year-old was presumed dead by fellow rescue teams, and his wife told news agency AFP that she had already offered last rites for his soul. Very few who go missing on the world’s largest mountain ever make it out alive.
“As far as I know, no one has survived alone at that altitude on Everest so far. This is a miracle to have survived for six days alone and descended safe. I think he must have lived inside the tents to keep himself safe,” a Sherpa told the outlet.
The Longest Anyone Has Been Alone on Mt. Everest
The hardy Sherpa is still in recovery, dealing with frostbite, but otherwise in surprisingly good health. He is being taken care of in Kathmandu’s HAMS Hospital. The doctors say he is awake and doing well.
It is presumed that this is the longest anyone has been exposed to the brutal conditions of Mt. Everest for so long, alone, and made it home alive and well. Rescue teams have been guessing at just how he managed it, over such a long distance and so many days. It is expected that as he descended from camp to camp, he was able to take refuge in tents and regain more energy for the next leg of his journey.
The former British Marine that Dawa had been guiding up the mountain when he went missing had already shared a tribute online, presuming he had passed away on the mountain. He mentioned that as he was descending from Camp 4, Dawa had taken a seat and told him to continue. By the time he stopped and turned again, Dawa was lost.
Every year, more people ascend Everest. Last year alone, 1000 people reached the summit, making it the busiest on record.