Dawa Sherpa, 52, was found Thursday morning crawling toward Everest Base Camp after being missing since late May. His rescue came after family members had already begun funeral rituals, believing he had died on the world’s highest mountain.

Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions, which coordinated search efforts, said Dawa was discovered near the Khumbu Icefall above base camp by a cleanup crew working on the mountain after the climbing season had ended.

Rescue Ends Week-Long Search

Dawa was last seen around May 29 while descending Everest after guiding a Polish climber. Although his client safely reached base camp, Dawa failed to arrive, prompting concern among colleagues and family members.

According to expedition officials, he was located by a team from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, the organization responsible for installing and later removing ladders and ropes along Everest’s climbing route each season.

Rescuers quickly transported him to safety, providing food and water before he was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Kathmandu for medical treatment.

Family Had Begun Funeral Rituals

The rescue stunned Dawa’s family, who had already accepted the possibility that he would not return.

His wife, Damu Sherpa, said the family first learned of his survival through local news reports and phone calls from acquaintances who informed them that he had been found alive and was being brought down from the mountain.

Dawa’s daughter, Mendo Lhamu Sherpa, said the family was in the middle of traditional funeral ceremonies when reports emerged that he had been rescued.

Initially uncertain whether the survivor was actually her father, the family requested photographs before confirming his identity. The images brought relief after days of uncertainty.

Survival in Harsh Conditions

Officials said Dawa was last seen near the Yellow Band area above Camp 3, located at approximately 7,200 meters (23,622 feet) above sea level. Everest Base Camp sits at about 5,300 meters (17,388 feet).

Details about how he survived the week alone on the mountain remain unclear.

Search efforts were not launched immediately after his disappearance. While helicopters were eventually deployed, officials said they were unable to locate him from the air.

Mountaineering Community Calls Survival Remarkable

Members of Nepal’s climbing community described the rescue as a rare survival story in one of the world’s most challenging environments.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, a prominent figure in Nepal’s mountaineering sector, said enduring several days on Everest under such conditions was exceptional.

Dawa works for Kathmandu-based expedition company Himalayan Traverse and comes from the district of Okhaldhunga in eastern Nepal.

Record Everest Season Concludes

The rescue occurred as Nepal’s busiest Everest climbing season on record came to an end. More than 1,000 climbers and guides reached the summit during May, according to the Associated Press report.

This year’s season began later than usual after a large block of ice above base camp delayed route preparation for roughly two weeks.

Standing at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet), Mount Everest remains the world’s highest peak. The mountain was first successfully climbed in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

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In a bid to improve safety and reduce overcrowding, Nepal is proposing a new law that would restrict permits to climb Mount Everest to those with prior experience on at least one of the country’s 7,000-meter (22,965 ft) peaks.

The country, known for its thriving tourism industry centered around trekking and mountaineering, has faced growing criticism for issuing permits to inexperienced climbers, which has contributed to dangerous congestion on the world’s highest peak, Everest (8,849 meters/29,032 feet).

Overcrowding in what’s known as the “Death Zone” — an area below the summit with dangerously low levels of oxygen — has led to deadly consequences. In 2023 alone, 12 climbers lost their lives, and five went missing on the slopes of Everest, with the government issuing 478 permits that year. This follows a troubling trend, with eight fatalities recorded in 2022.

Under the proposed law, climbers would need to prove they have previously scaled a mountain in Nepal that reaches at least 7,000 meters in height to qualify for an Everest permit. The new regulations would also require that both the sardar (local staff head) and the mountain guide accompanying the climbers be Nepali citizens.

The law, which has already been introduced to the National Assembly, is expected to pass, given the ruling alliance’s majority in the upper house of Parliament.

However, some international expedition operators have expressed concerns. Lukas Furtenbach of Furtenbach Adventures, based in Austria, argues that the rule should extend beyond just Nepalese peaks. “That wouldn’t make any sense. We should include other mountains close to 7,000 meters, like Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, and Denali, as part of the qualification,” he said. Furtenbach also stressed the need for qualified guides from all over the world, citing the shortage of Nepali mountain guides with the required expertise.

“It’s crucial for guides to hold qualifications such as the IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations), regardless of their nationality,” he added.

Garrett Madison of Madison Mountaineering, a US-based expedition company, suggested that any 6,500-meter peak would be a more practical benchmark for Everest permits. “It’s challenging to find suitable 7,000-meter-plus peaks in Nepal,” Madison said.

Nepal is home to more than 400 mountain peaks open to expeditions, with 74 of them surpassing the 7,000-meter threshold. However, most of these peaks are not as popular among climbers, leaving only a handful of 7,000-meter mountains regularly attracting attention.

Tashi Lhakpa Sherpa, a seasoned climber with eight summits of Everest under his belt, pointed out that only a select few 7,000-meter peaks are commonly used by climbers for preparation. “The majority of the high-altitude mountains aren’t frequented by many,” he explained.

As the debate over the new law continues, the goal remains clear: reduce overcrowding and ensure safer climbs on Everest — one of the most perilous and iconic mountains in the world.

Source: CNN – Nepal to restrict Everest permits to climbers who have scaled another 7,000+ foot Nepali mountain

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