The world's highest peak has already turned deadly this month. Two climbers have lost their lives on Mount Everest in May, casting a shadow over the start of the busy climbing season.
On May 3, 52-year-old Nepali guide Lakpa Dendi Sherpa died while trekking from the village of Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp. His death marks the first of two tragedies on the mountain this month.
Earlier in May, 35-year-old Bijaya Ghimire, a Nepali high-altitude worker employed by TAG Nepal, also perished. His death is believed to be linked to altitude sickness, a common threat on the world's tallest mountain.
Ghimire was a trailblazer in more ways than one. In 2016, he became the first person from Nepal's marginalized Dalit ethnic group to summit Everest. "Nepal is still a caste-dominated society. By being the first Dalit to summit Mount Everest, I showed society that we are humans, too," he said in 2019.
Reflecting on his historic climb, Ghimire added, "As I worked on the mountain, I saw many different types of people climbing Everest. I thought about how for over sixty-five years, people were continually reaching the summit. They were setting records. But not a single person from the Dalit community had reached the top. So I made up my mind to be the first."
The deaths come as nearly 500 climbing permits have been issued for Everest this year, with the vast majority of climbers aiming to summit in early to mid-May when weather conditions are most favorable. The mountain has seen more than 300 climbing deaths since records began.
These tragedies echo the risks that have long been part of Everest's allure and danger. For context, recent headlines have included NASCAR fans blasting FOX's broadcast and NFL locking in Week 1 matchups, but the stakes on Everest are life and death.
As the climbing season continues, the mountaineering community mourns the loss of two individuals who embodied the spirit of the sport. Our thoughts remain with everyone on the mountain.
