Chhewang Nima climbed Everest 19 times and would have probably passed the world record of 20 ascents in another season. To those who knew him, however, this was not what defined this gentle soul. If you met him on the road, you would never have guessed that you were meeting one of those rare and Elite Sherpas to whom was granted that immense admiration and respect within the small and exclusive club. As a high altitude climber, he was second to none.
I got to know Chhewang through my cousin Ang Phurba a few years ago. I lost touch with him for a while until I heard that he was in Washington on Bainbridge Island staying as a guest of Pete Athans, another mountaineer. I invited him over for dinner, picked him up at the ferry docks and instantly decided to sign him as a Brand Ambassador for Sherpa Adventure Gear.
I have never regretted doing that because to me, he represented all that was good in our culture- the unabashed simplicity of intent, the grounded wisdom of separating the gloss from the substance and a quiet but unrelenting work ethic. Our entire Nepal team loved working with him because of his disarming smile when giving his opinion about our gear and sharing his own experience about what he wanted to wear on the summit.
In recent years, he made it to Seattle in the summers to lead groups for Alpine Ascents on Mt. Rainier and other peaks as well as working the winters in Alaska raising Yaks. He was loved and respected by all his climbing brethren. Having missed out on a formal education himself, he made it a point to get his children educated and at the same time support his family of 8 brothers and sisters. I admire him deeply for the personal sacrifices he must have made to take on such a responsibility and will consider it my own honor to do what we can from Sherpa Adventure Gear to help his family.
I just wish I had known him better.