User talk:Kj555245

/* Sherpa community and commercial climbing */ new section
Sherpas are a Tibetan ethnic group that has been known to be a nomadic population, traveling from modern-day Tibet and Nepal. Many Sherpas reside in the Solukhmbu region in Nepal. Moreover, the name Sherpa means “people of the east,” The title has been associated with mountaineering and Mt. Everest. While many Sherpas are accustomed to mountaineering, the job has become increasingly complex with the rise of the commercial climbing industry. Since every first ascent that took place in 1953, more than 9,000 people have as reached the summit of Mt. Everest. However, there are more and more inexperienced climbers taking on the 29,032 feet mountain. With the increase of more inexperienced climbers, Sherpas have been critical in commercial climbing. Sherpas are have taken on many roles in the climbing industry, such as porter or mountain guide. More mountain guides or people working at higher altitudes get paid more, up to $5,000 during the climbing seasons. However, with these higher altitudes, jobs are considered more dangerous and high risk. Within these roles, Sherpas are expected to care for everyone in their climbing group, whether that be checking their oxygen, providing extra food and water, and helping carry gear. The climbing season for Mt. Everest is a single week in May. The process of reaching the summit and preparation takes months. Nevertheless, being be a mountain guide is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. According to the Bureau of Labor, being a “Sherpa” is thirty times as hazardous as being a logger. Due to the growth of commercial climbing and tourism surrounding Mt. Everest, some Sherpas will get paid less than Western mountain guides. Not only that, but after the devastating avalanche in 2014, 16 Sherpas had lost their lives. However, even after this incident, some sherpas recount how they felt as if they had to continue to ensure they would get paid. After the incident, the Napolenese government gave around $400 to the families affected, a relatively small amount, considering that climbers have to pay upward to $ 10,000 alone to the Nepalese government to ascent Mt. Everest. Nevertheless, some studies have shown for some Sherpas, Mt. Everest is a place of liminality and that mountain climbing increases their sense of community and isn’t something that is only done for monetary gain. The liminality occurs because of how high up Mt. Everest is, and it’s what deems its proximity to heaven. Additionality, near-death experiences can change how some Sherpa look at life and its purpose and change power dynamics. Specifically, after the 2014 avalanche, many Sherpas refused to continue and at times even left climbers to return to Base Camps.

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