Why are Sherpas always happy?

Over the years working in expeditions, dating back to the early decades of the 20th century, the argument goes, Sherpas had learned what the foreign climbers valued and rewarded, what the climbers wanted to see -- loyalty, camaraderie, and cheerfulness -- and gave it to them.



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While a Western guide can make about $50,000 per season, Sherpas only earn about $2,000 to $5,000 per season, with bonuses if they reach the summit. That's far more than the $48 average monthly salary in Nepal, but the job is also tremendously dangerous. Would you climb Mount Everest without a harness for $100,000?

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Sherpa get paid the paltry amount of between $3,000-$5,000 US-Dollars for the climbing season, plus bonuses if they climb the Everest.

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Of all deaths from 1950 to 2019 in non-Sherpa climbers during a summit bid on Mount Everest, about 35% were caused by falls, with other leading causes being exhaustion (22%), altitude illness (18%) and exposure (13%). In Sherpa deaths over the same time period, 44% were attributable to avalanches.

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Francys Arsentiev is known as The Sleeping Beauty of Everest. She died on Mount Everest on May 24, 1998, when she descended from the top of the tallest mountain after setting the record of the first American female to climb Everest without oxygen.

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