At the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS), our mantra is to “join your profession with your passion.” Wongchu Sherpa, Founder and late Chairman of Peak Promotion Pvt. Ltd. of Nepal, and long-time partner of Everest ER and the WMS, embodied that notion. In doing so, Wongchu not only expanded the scope of practice for his adventure tourism company, but also created significant life-changing opportunities for his local, regional, and national community in Nepal. His tactical acumen and drive paved the way for many WMS members to experience unforgettable international travel, and inspired a multi-cultural approach to wilderness medicine. On the road to compiling an incredibly long list of entrepreneurial, community, environmental, climbing and trekking, and other personal accomplishments, Wongchu made many close, lifelong friends.

 

WONGCHU SHERPA

 

LUANNE FREER
Past President, WMS

In Wongchu’s characteristic way, I no more than had the sentence out of my mouth, “I’m trying to set up a nonprofit clinic at Everest base camp. I need cooks, tents, permits – the whole deal…” when he replied, “No problem, Didi (the Nepali word for sister). I can fix this for you. You are welcome to join John at base camp. Do you like coffee? I’ll pack some extra.”

 

I will never forget seeing Wongchu Sherpa for the first time in Nepal nearly three years ago. Standing in the international hall at the Kathmandu airport late at night, I recognized him immediately in his Peak Promotion soft shell jacket and brilliant blue cap over a dress shirt and slacks. He welcomed me with a fragrant Nepali flower necklace, and tika, and Cliffsnotes instructions on completing the entrance visa. Despite towing a very large duffle full of medical equipment and medications destined for the Everest ER, we zoomed through customs and immigration, Wongchu seamlessly transitioning my weary mind to adventure mode as he gave me a midnight tour of Kathmandu en route to the adventure of a lifetime in the Khumbu. From those first few moments at airport customs to the complex end of an eventful Khumbu adventure, the street credibility of Wongchu was obvious; this was a universally respected man who made friends everywhere he went. It was like he ran the country of Nepal. He was a man who moved mountains to ensure the dreams of countless trekkers, climbers, Sherpas, friends, and family.

WONGCHU ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE FACILITATING A RESCUE IN AN LZ NEVER BEFORE USED IN THE KHUMBU.
Photo Credit – Jim Schultz

 

 

 

PAUL AUERBACH
Past President, WMS

He was the master of cutting to the chase, and could get to the heart of the matter while others were still evading the topic with greetings and small talk. “Too much talking, not enough doing.” “Money doesn’t come from the sky.” “Eat more.” If you knew Wongchu, you’re smiling now.

 

JOHN HIGGINBOTHAM FAWM, HAPPY HIS SON HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WONGCHU AND CHHOTI AT THE WMS SUMMER MEETING IN JACKSON 2014.

By the time of his death at age 49 in December 2015, after battling cancer for more than two years, Wongchu Sherpa had contributed enormously to the world. Coming from humble beginnings in the slums of Chyangba, Solukhumbu, losing his mother as an infant and his father at age six, he felt that giving back to his hometown was very important. Before leaving home at age 16, Wongchu’s vision of progress was obvious; he was nominated for the Village Development Committee. Seeking the means necessary to improve his village in a meaningful way, Wongchu left for Kathmandu, where he initially served in the military and with the police force. He soon entered the tourism business, starting out as a cook, and then guiding and mountaineering. Guiding in the Himalaya set the stage for a career path that changed the life trajectory for Wongchu Sherpa – Founding and Directing Peak Promotion Nepal.

 

"IN 2012 DURING THE FIRST WMS EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK AND CLIMB OF EVEREST, I HAD JUST LANDED IN THE ICU FOR SEPSIS. AS ALWAYS, MY GOOD FRIEND WONGCHU (ALONG WITH TREK TEAM) BROUGHT A 'FLAT ERIC AND MICHELLE' PICTURE TO EBC. HIS CARING AND THOUGHTFULNESS WAS A TRUE EXPRESSION OF HIS FRIENDSHIP."

 

ERIC JOHNSON
Past President, WMS

He was there for me when I nearly died, and I tried to be there for him. His story is one of inspiration and joy. He was always interested in helping Nepal and keeping his employees working. He worked tirelessly on behalf of his amazing country.

 

GUIDING AND TREKKING ON THE TRAILS WONGCHU WORKED TO PRESERVE.

Wongchu became an accomplished guide and mountaineer. He summited Everest, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Makalu, Sisha Pangma, Langtang, Cho-oyu, Kilimanjaro, Mustaghata, Fuji, Island Peak, Lobuche, Mera, Naya Kanga, Lang Shisha, Rainer, and Kebnekaise. In the early evolution of Peak Promotion, Wongchu participated in the 1998 David Breashears IMAX movie Everest that documented the summit bid during the disaster in the spring of 1996. Working with the media became and an important part of Peak Promotion operations, opening the world’s eyes to the beauty of and respect demanded by the tallest mountain on Earth, while providing necessary funding for local projects.

 

 

TONY ISLAS
Past President, WMS

Wongchu truly deserves all of the praise and prayers that this tribute by the WMS will bestow on his memory. He was a great man, and a great partner and friend of the WMS and the WMS membership needs to know that. But for me, he was my friend.

 

After establishing a successful business venture, including becoming the founding chairman of the Everest Summiteers Association (ESA), Wongchu’s service activities expanded, and herein lie many of his most meaningful achievements. In his hometown of Chyangba, Wongchu established the Wongchu Biswa Darshan School, bringing the gift of education to children of the village. Wongchu’s vision to shine even brighter lights on his village resulted in the establishment in 1999 of the Wongchu Micro Hydro Project, financed by locals, proceeds from the IMAX movie, and in large part by Wongchu himself. Subsequent projects included building and maintaining roads and bridges in rural Nepal, including a road to Lukla, home of the most common starting point of the trek to Mount Everest from the Nepal side. Wongchu became a significant environmentalist and completed several projects to clean up Everest, Everest Base Camp, and the Khumbu, originating efforts that collected and disposed of more than 15,000 kilograms of garbage.

 

BHUTAN

 

MICHAEL CAUDELL

I first met Wongchu on the WMS “No Excuses” trek to Everest Base Camp in 2012 and quickly gained a great deal of respect for him. It became clear early on that he was a great leader and a successful proponent for travel and tourism in Nepal. But we became friends a couple of years later while we were roommates on a trekking/cycling trip in Bhutan. His cancer was then undiagnosed, but it was clear he was not feeling well. He showed his strength during that time and we had many discussions about life in general. I learned much about his life, and discovered his true character of giving. I am better for having known him.

 

WMS EVEREST EXPERIENCE 2013

GLEN HOWARD

Your eyes spoke loudly that you wanted to serve others, make a difference in the lives of the people you met.

Kamding Nepal Medical Facility Project:

Wongchu Sherpa Memorial Hospital

Wongchu Sherpa has a long list of life achievements, but he had a longer list of projects on his “To Do” list. Number one on the list was to bring better access and quality of healthcare to his local village and the lower Solukhumbu region. This project is derived from that wish. Peak Promotion Pvt. Ltd. Nepal, under Managing Director Mr. Ang Phula Sherpa, is coordinating the local and national efforts in Nepal. From the USA, the Himalayan Rescue Association, HRA-USA (the nonprofit created to benefit Everest ER and other health care initiatives in the Himalaya), led by Drs. Luanne Freer and Eric Johnson, in association with Dr. Paul Auerbach from Stanford University, will focus on project planning and international coordination. The HRA-USA has pledged $125,000 to support construction of the hospital. The Wilderness Medical Society serves as the US-based nonprofit coordinating organization. In tribute to his life and work, the WMS takes great pride in inviting our members and friends to honor Wongchu Sherpa by joining in the effort to build the Wongchu Sherpa Memorial Hospital.

DONATE TO THE WONGCHU SHERPA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PROJECT