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The last rites of legendary Ang Rita Sherpa popularly known as the ‘snow leopard’ in the mountaineering community for his climbing skills were performed at Teku Dovan, Kathmandu on Wednesday with state honours. He had breathed his last on September 21, Monday morning at his own residence in Kathmandu.
Tourism Minister, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai draped national flag on the body of late Sherpa. An arm police contingent gave a guard of honor and a gun salute to late Sherpa. Ex-Ministers, parliament members, monks, nuns, mountaineers, representative of various organizations and relatives took part in the funeral procession.
Ang Rita Sherpa was born in Yillajung village of Everest region in 1948.
Mr. Sherpa, known by his nickname “snow leopard” spent his earlier childhood driving Yaks, farming, and trading goods in Tibet. At the age of 15 he began his work in the mountaineering by starting to work as the porter and mail runner for the expeditions. Later, he worked as a base camp kitchen boy and started upgrading his position as assistant climbing Sherpa. Climbing Sherpa, Sirdar (Expedition Leader) and eventually a liaison officer.
He has unbreakable records of climbing Everest 10 times without supplementary oxygen till the summit in the years; 1983, 1984,1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, and 1996. He was awarded with a Guinness World Record certificate for making the most number of successful ascents on Mt Everest without using the supplemental oxygen.
Along Everest that he has climbed Daulagiri I (1979, 1980, 1982), Cho Oyu (1984, 1987, 1994, 1995) and Kangchenjunga (1986), Mt. Ketu of Pakistan, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Annapurna.
He was a climbing star and his death marks a major loss for the country and for the climbing fraternity.
some moments from his final rites.
