It is 50 years since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to scale Mount Everest. Tenzing's nephew, Nawang Gombu, who followed in his uncle's footsteps.
Nawang Gombu started climbing in 1953, and afterwards became the first person to reach the summit of Everest twice.
Nawang Gombu started climbing in 1953, and afterwards became the first person to reach the summit of Everest twice.
He also took over from Tenzing Norgay to become field director of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Two time Everester and that too without bottled Oxygen, Everest Living Legend Nawang Gombu Sherpa was present as guest of honour at the Samdong Senior Secondary School in Sikkim for the graduation ceremony of 5 days Rock Climbing Course undertaken by a batch of 42 students of School. The Area MLA Norzang Lepcha also present as ChiefGuest on occassion welcomed such efforts of School.
"I am happy to learn that aSchool in Sikkim has taken such an inititative.This area hasgreat potential as an adventure destination and I wish all of yoy the best and urge that your continuous encouragement for adventure sports and adventure tourism" he said in his address to gathering present on occassion. The spirit of adventure was visible in students who have scaled up the imposing 'Gouthali Dhunga' after such a short course. All the 42 students are in NSS as Volunteers and The Coursewas organised by the NSS and conducted by the instructors from Darjeeling's Tenzing Norgay Climbing Club and It was first of its kind achievement by any School with in Sikkim.
"The couse this year is something different and this isto give exposure to rural children and also to combat the addiction of drugs, alcoholism and other such social evils on rise in villages of sikkim...the main objective was to divertattention of students to constructive works and productive engagements such as adventure sports" explains Y.N.Sapkota,NSS -Programme Officer,Schools. The trainning,he added, was in sync with the NSS theme of year-"HEALTHY YOUTHS FOR HEALTHY INDIA".
Nawang Gombu married and living in Darjeeling, India. He was born in 1936 in Minzu, Tibet. He is the business director of the Himalayan Mountain Institute established by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. Few people know he was the son of Tenzing Norgay's oldest sister, Lhamu Kipa. Therefore, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa was his Uncle!
A very brief overview of his two summits of Everest are below...
1963: American Expedition with Norman Dyhrenfurth as leader and including A. Auten, Barry Bishop, Jake Breitenbach, J. Corbet, D. Dingman, D. Doody, R. Emerson, Tom Hornbein, Lute Jerstad, J. Lester, Willi Unsoeld, and Jim Whittaker. A huge expedition, costing almost $400,000 and supported by the National Geographic Society, over 900 porters carry 29 tons of food and equipment to the base of the mountain. Base Camp is established at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall on Mar 21 and the route through the icefall prepared soon after. Jake Breitenbach is killed by collapsing seracs in the Icefall but the expedition continues. The expedition splits into two parties - the West Ridgers and the South Collers.
First Assault: May 1 From Camp 6 at 27,450 feet (8370 meters) on the SE Ridge, Jim Whittakerand Nawang Gombu Sherpareach the summit in strong winds at 1 PM. Whittaker becomes the first American to summit Everest.
1965: Third Indian Expedition, with Commander M.S Kohli as leader. On May 20, 1965 they succeed when A.S. Cheema and Sherpa Nawang Gombu ascend the SE Ridge. Gombu becomes the first person to summit Everest twice (the 11th and 17th summit). Out of the first seventeen summits of Everest, Nawang had two of them! Additional summits were achieved by Sonam Gyatso Sherpa, Sonam Wangyal, C.P. Vohra, Ang Kami Sherpa, H.P.S. Ahluwalia, H.C.S. Rawat, and Phu Dorje Sherpa.
Nawang Gombu Sherpa started his Everest career in 1960 as part of the India Expedition to Everest lead by Gyan Singh. Nawang Gombu reached a high point of 8625 meters on May 25th before turning back due to high winds.
Nawang Gombu Sherpa was also part of the 1982 American expedition that attempted Great Couloir of Everest lead by Lou Whittaker. The expedition was terminated when Marty Hoey died.
A very brief overview of his two summits of Everest are below...
1963: American Expedition with Norman Dyhrenfurth as leader and including A. Auten, Barry Bishop, Jake Breitenbach, J. Corbet, D. Dingman, D. Doody, R. Emerson, Tom Hornbein, Lute Jerstad, J. Lester, Willi Unsoeld, and Jim Whittaker. A huge expedition, costing almost $400,000 and supported by the National Geographic Society, over 900 porters carry 29 tons of food and equipment to the base of the mountain. Base Camp is established at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall on Mar 21 and the route through the icefall prepared soon after. Jake Breitenbach is killed by collapsing seracs in the Icefall but the expedition continues. The expedition splits into two parties - the West Ridgers and the South Collers.
First Assault: May 1 From Camp 6 at 27,450 feet (8370 meters) on the SE Ridge, Jim Whittakerand Nawang Gombu Sherpareach the summit in strong winds at 1 PM. Whittaker becomes the first American to summit Everest.
1965: Third Indian Expedition, with Commander M.S Kohli as leader. On May 20, 1965 they succeed when A.S. Cheema and Sherpa Nawang Gombu ascend the SE Ridge. Gombu becomes the first person to summit Everest twice (the 11th and 17th summit). Out of the first seventeen summits of Everest, Nawang had two of them! Additional summits were achieved by Sonam Gyatso Sherpa, Sonam Wangyal, C.P. Vohra, Ang Kami Sherpa, H.P.S. Ahluwalia, H.C.S. Rawat, and Phu Dorje Sherpa.
Nawang Gombu Sherpa started his Everest career in 1960 as part of the India Expedition to Everest lead by Gyan Singh. Nawang Gombu reached a high point of 8625 meters on May 25th before turning back due to high winds.
Nawang Gombu Sherpa was also part of the 1982 American expedition that attempted Great Couloir of Everest lead by Lou Whittaker. The expedition was terminated when Marty Hoey died.
