Wongchu Sherpa passed away today after many months of fighting against the cancer. He will be remembered by the Himalaya climbers for his big heart and professional approach to climbing.
I got to know Wongchu Sherpa 20 years ago when climbing with Göran Kropp i Tibet. I loved working with him for Everest Summiteers Association. He really cared for the environment of Nepal. Wongchu was the man who made everything possible; BBC, IMAX, Everest or hiking tours; he made the impossible possible through never giving up. He started as an ambitious kitchen boy and soon moved up to guide until he built up one of the most historical tour operators in Himalaya. He won over Everest but finally he lost the battle against cancer today.
When I came down from Everest, Wongchu came up to me in the icefall with a Coke; “-Here! Necessary drink. Then hug!”.
Good luck, my friend, on your journey and I hope that we meet one day!
Peace and love / Johan
Here is a “short” list of his life-CV:
Awards/ Medals/Certificates
– Award from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger California 2009
– Award from Tenzing Hillary Mountaineering
– Suprabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu, (Nepal Government)
– Japan Nepal Friendship Expedition Award
– Award from Nepal Mountaineering Association
– Award from Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China
– 4th Kathmandu International Marathon Award, 1996
– Award from Lions Club International
– Appreciation letter from Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal
– Award from Rotary Club International
– Award from Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration
– Award from World Environment day (Nepal Government)
– Award from India Mountaineering Association
– Appreciation letter from Ministry of Tourism, Nepal
– Award from Summiteers to save the Himalaya, Nepal
– Special Honor from Taiwan Mountain Association
– Everest Social Service Award – 2015
– Participation in Everest IMAX Filming Expedition
– BBC Everest Expedition
– Lonely Planet Guide Video
– Himalayan Michael Palin and many other international films…
Published many stories in national and international books, magazine and newspapers
Involved in national Geographical channel, Everest Movie, Glacier Research Project, Diamond Jubilee celebration of Mount Everest, Artificial legged summiteers’ Everest summit 2003
Involvement
– Founder Chairman – Chyangba welfare committee 1986
– Life member – Sherpa welfare centre Nepal
– Life member – Nepal Sherpa Association
– Member – Nepal Mountaineering Association
– Founder chairman -Wongchu Biswa Darshan lower secondary school, Solukhumbu
– Founder vice-president – Himalayan Sherpa culture, Nepal
– Life member – Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust
– Board member – 6 years (Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, TAAN)
– Advisor -Monastery Committee Solukhumbu
– Life Member – JP Foundation Nepal
– Founder Chairman – Wongchu Micro Hydro Power project, Solukhumbu
– Founder Chairman- Peak Promotion Pvt Ltd.
– Founder President – Sagaramatha Area Development Committee
– Advisor- Solukhumbu Road Construction Committee
– Founder / Life member- Kathmandu Environment Education project
– Advisor – Social Development Youth Group, Solukhumbu
– Board member – Himalayan Rescue Association, HRA
– Founder Chairman – Everest Summiteers Association, ESA
– Founder Chairman – Sub health post, Solukhumbu
– Founder Chairman- Peak Promotion Trading Ltd.
– Member -Lions Club of International
– Advisor -Bridge Construction Management Committee ( Tangboche, Larcha Doban , Phorthse, Pheriche, Thukla) ( Bridges on the way to Mt Everest)
– Founder Chairman – Pikey Solukhumbu Tapting Welfare Service Committee
– Chairman -Saving Mount Everest Cleaning Campaign Committee
– Member- Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee
– Coordinator -Wilderness Medical Society for Nepal
– Founder Chairman- Himalayan Yokpu Foundation
– Coordinator -Summiteers Summit to save The Himalaya in Denmark, Copenhagen 2009
– Team Leader: Johan Ernst Nilson / Nepal Television Everest Expedition 2007
– Expedition Coordinator – Rotary Centenary Everest Expedition 2005
– Committee Member – Nepalese Women Millennium Everest Expedition 2002
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