Lakpa Rita Sherpa is one of the most well known and respected mountain guides in the world. Born and raised in the small village of Thame, Nepal Lakpa followed the footsteps of his father and began his first mountaineering expedition at the age of 18 in 1984. From what began as a job, Lakpa soon realized mountaineering was his true passion. On October 7th of 1990, Lakpa made his first summit to Mt. Everest and since then, he has made over 17 summits, and led 36 expeditions, guiding a record of 254 climbers to the summit.

Lakpa moved to the United States in 2000 and started working as a full-time mountain guide around the world, leading expeditions in Alaska, Antarctica, and South America. In 2009, he became the first Sherpa to climb the seven summits. Lakpa was also named Outside Magazine’s “Adventurer of the Year” in 2013.

He also has 62 Summits of Aconcagua, 150+ summits of Mt Rainier, and 18 summits of Vinson. He has guided on K2, Broad Peak, Annapurna, Manaslu, Dhaulagari and Makalu.

Lakpa has now been guiding full time for over 30 years worldwide with several different guiding companies.

Summary:

Lakpa Rita Sherpa, a renowned mountain guide, shares his experiences and insights on mountaineering. He discusses his inspiration from Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, his first climb on Everest and a harrowing avalanche experience. Lakpa also talks about the changes in climbing on Everest, the increase in commercial expeditions, and the recognition of Nepalese climbers. He addresses misconceptions about Sherpas and porters and compares the climbing approaches in the Himalaya and other parts of the world. Lakpa shares his favorite places to climb outside of Nepal and his future plans. He offers advice for beginner mountaineers and discusses his daily routines for staying in shape and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Takeaways:

• Lakpa Rita Sherpa was inspired to climb Everest after a visit from Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to his school.


• The climbing season on Everest has shifted from fall to spring due to better weather conditions and reduced avalanche risks.


• The commercialization of Everest has led to a significant increase in the number of climbers, with up to 800-1000 people attempting to summit each season.


• Sherpas play a crucial role in supporting climbers on Everest and are essential for the success of expeditions.


• Lakpa Rita Sherpa recommends starting with hiking and gradually increasing the weight carried to prepare for mountaineering.

Chapters

(00:00 ) Introduction and Background

(02:39 ) Inspiration from Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay

(06:00 ) First Climb on Everest and Avalanche Experience

(09:48 ) Changes in Climbing on Everest

(11:14 ) Shift from Fall to Spring Climbing Season

(12:42 ) Emotional First Summit and Spiritual Connection

(15:35 ) Changes in Climbing Industry and Recognition of Nepalese Climbers

(17:00 ) Increase in Commercial Expeditions on Everest

(20:22 ) Misconceptions about Sherpas and Porters

(23:41 ) Comparison of Climbing Approaches in the Himalaya and Other Parts of the World

(25:34 ) Changes in Standard of Living and Income for Climbers in Nepal

(31:16 ) Favorite Places to Climb Outside of Nepal

(32:42 ) Dream Climb and Future Plans

(36:34 ) Staying in Shape and Healthy Lifestyle

(38:00 ) Advice for Beginner Mountaineers

(40:25 ) Where to Find More Information about Lakpa Rita Sherpa

(41:20 ) Closing Remarks

To learn more about Lakpa Rita Sherpa, visit his website at www.khangriexperience.com

To learn more about We Like It On Top, visit our website at www.welikeitontop.com