So why doesn’t anyone know her name?

May 20, 2016 7:41 AM

The Most Successful Female Everest Climber of All Time Is a Housekeeper in Hartford, Connecticut. Lhakpa Sherpa breaks own record, scales Everest for seventh time
posted by the man of twists and turns (17 comments total)

I'm moderately good with trivia and I don't know the name of anyone who has scaled Everest except Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay, and a presumably a bunch of people named Sherpa. So in some ways, I do know her name?
posted by mzurer at 8:07 AM on May 20, 2016

Very interesting article, click-baity headline not-withstanding.
posted by mzurer at 8:17 AM on May 20, 2016

A fascinating article, and an admirable woman; I'm glad I know her name now.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 8:18 AM on May 20, 2016

I'm kinda hesitant to make a big deal out of it, though it is referenced in the article, but I don't think how both Lhakpa Sherpa and her ex-husband came off in the book High Crimes has helped her from a PR perspective. I say I'm hesitant because it's been a while since I read it, and maybe my memory is wrong, but I recall the both of them coming off as people who coasted on other peoples' money (often that came from people who paid to accompany them), and/or the help (and gear) of other, more prepared climbers.

I did google around a bit to see if I could find any major criticism of the book's accuracy, and I wasn't seeing it. If anyone knows more, I'd certainly be interested.
posted by tocts at 8:18 AM on May 20, 2016

I've read so many articles on Everest where "Sherpa" isn't capitalized, let alone elaborated on, that I wonder if a someone reading about the mountain for the first time would conclude that a sherpa is a breed of donkey.
posted by ocschwar at 8:24 AM on May 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

Fascinating read, and very depressing in all sorts of ways. I've always found it odd, in my western-centred universe, that sherpas are often left out of the overall history. Like they are just slaves or hired help... almost not human.
posted by greenhornet at 8:26 AM on May 20, 2016 [8 favorites]

I've read so many articles on Everest where "Sherpa" isn't capitalized, let alone elaborated on, that I wonder if a someone reading about the mountain for the first time would conclude that a sherpa is a breed of donkey.

If I had to guess why, I'd guess that people probably think it is a job title.
posted by Mitrovarr at 9:44 AM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've read that Michael Kodas book referenced in the first article, High Crimes: The Fate of Everest in the Age of Greed.

Lhakpa Sherpa and her husband came across as a pair of assholes in that.

Ah, I see tocts had the same impression.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:47 AM on May 20, 2016

Yeah, I'm a little uncomfortable with people tarring her with the same brush as her abuser, especially since she was functionally illiterate in English.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 11:47 AM on May 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

If I had to guess why, I'd guess that people probably think it is a job title.

I definitely thought it was when I was a kid and I first heard about Everest.
posted by atoxyl at 12:02 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

TIL: Sherpa not a job title.
posted by Mitheral at 4:30 PM on May 20, 2016

I thought Sherpa was one of those name/job title combos, like "Smith" or "Carpenter" or something. Is that not the case?
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 6:54 PM on May 20, 2016

As in, you wouldn't capitalize "carpenter" if you were just saying, "I'm gonna hire a carpenter" but you'd capitalize it for a specific person, like "I'm going to hire John Carpenter."
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 6:55 PM on May 20, 2016

Yep, I immediately recognized her name from High Crimes. I actually wish I knew less about her.
posted by lkc at 8:36 PM on May 20, 2016

this article calls people not named Sherpa Sherpas - "Nima Gyalzen, a Sherpa"

I am more confused.
posted by flaterik at 10:29 PM on May 20, 2016

Interesting! I got curious and looked this up --according to Encyclopedia Brittanica, "Sherpa" refers to:
- an ethnic group
- their language
- the name of one of 18 clans (every member of the ethnic group belongs to one of the clans; I think it's this sense that relates to the surname?)
- "a variety of ethnic groups in the region who have exhibited excellent mountaineering and trekking skills. These “Sherpas,” a great number of whom are indeed ethnic Sherpas, have been essential to the ascents of various mountains of the Himalayas." (and this is the sense that's closest to it being a job. But I gather that even if someone from elsewhere wanted to take up that job, they would just be a guide/assistant, they wouldn't be a Sherpa?)
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 PM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

I thought Sherpa as a surname came from people of the Sherpa ethnic group not traditionally using surnames.
posted by atoxyl at 11:07 PM on May 20, 2016