Babu Chiri Sherpa - Mountaineering

Mountaineering

He began his career as a climber at the age of 16 when he procured a job as a trekking porter. On his first portering assignment he scaled the notorious Ambhu Labtsa pass. He summited Mera Peak (6472 m) in four hours in 1985.

Chiri eventually found work portering for Everest expeditions. It was during this time he began showing his true abilities as a high altitude mountaineer. Chiri reached the summit of Everest a record ten times.

In May 1999 he spent a record 21 hours on the summit without supplementary oxygen, even sleeping there.

Babu Chiri spoke four languages: Sherpa, Nepali, English and Hindi. He travelled to Canada, China, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan and the United States. He had six daughters.