At just 13 years old, Tendi Sherpa secured a job as an equipment porter on a 24-day expedition in the Annapurna region of Nepal. Too young to officially join, he hid beneath a client’s luggage to make the trip. Once on the mountain, it was too late to turn him away. Despite lacking proper gear—or even decent shoes—he carried 95 pounds of equipment to altitudes as high as 17,000 feet.
By 19, Tendi earned his first opportunity to climb Everest, contributing to a group effort that removed roughly 2.4 tons of garbage from the mountain. Two years later, he became one of the youngest climbing guides on Everest.
His journey reflects a deep reverence for nature and a lifelong appreciation for the places he has visited and the people he has met along the way. He began practicing English while working at a coffee shop in Kathmandu, engaging customers in conversation whenever possible. Today, he speaks more than eight languages fluently and guides for several distinguished companies.
Join us for a presentation and slideshow sharing Tendi Sherpa’s incredible story of resilience, adventure, and impact.
