Michael Greenberg Photography- Lakpa Dorjee Sherpa
Lakpa Dorjee Sherpa
63yrs old
Summited once May 14th 1983
He guided 3 climbers to the summit. The climbers abandoned him at the summit without equipment to get down. All he had was a “crumby old ice axe”. Fell and rolled down about 300m. Lost consciousness and woke up hours later without his goggles or axe, meters from the cliff. Rested 10 mins had some water. couldn’t sleep all night wondering who is going to take care of his parents when he dies, when he woke up he prayed “I’m sorry but thank you for Chumulumu (Nepali name for god?) for saving my life” Remained a climbing sherpa on other mountains but refused to ever summit Everest again despite being offered more money. Kept his promise.