Mount Everest, known to Nepalis as Sagarmatha, meaning, roughly, “Goddess of the Sky,” and to Tibetans as Chomolungma, “Goddess Mother of the Land,” is the tallest mountain in the world. Every year hundreds of mountaineers from around the world attempt to reach the 29,029 foot high summit, enlisting Nepali Sherpa people to help them climb.
Who are the Sherpas? The Sherpa are an ethnic group whose members dwell in the most mountainous region of Nepal. Sherpas view Everest as holy and start expeditions with a Puja ceremoy. Despite this reverence and also in spite of their great skill, dozens of Sherpa have died while climbing, most notably in a massive avalanche in 2014.