Farakka Barrage, 164–67
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), 106
First World War, 66–67
Free Flight International Film Festival, 115–17, 129, 183, 184
funding, 56, 77, 81, 124, 167, 180. See also sponsors
Gaillard, Charley, 33–37, 39–41, 53, 130, 145
Ganesh Kayak Shop, 33, 35, 37, 41, 53, 130–31
Ganga, Mother (Hindu goddess), 158–60
Ganges River
Farakka Barrage, 164–67
Hindu myth about, 158–60
human bodies floating down, 161
kayaking, 161–64, 166–68, 169–70
maps, lack of, 154, 157
pollution of, 160–61
Gasherbrum II, 47, 50
geology of Indian subcontinent, 61–62
Gevaux, Pierre, 47
Giorgio, Paul, 29–30
glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), 135–36
Glaisher, James, 103–4
glider, 54–55, 80–81, 87
Gondwana, 61
GPS tracker, 59, 81, 101–2, 121, 144, 158
Grylls, Edward “Bear,” 105–6
Gurumg, Devika, 128
Halsei Mahadev, 124–25
Hanuman Airlines (documentary), 115–17, 127–30, 182–83, 184–85
harnesses, 82–83
High Altitude Dreams (HAD), 29–30, 55
Hillary, Edmund, 72–74, 84, 96
Himalaya, 56, 62, 89. See also Everest, Mount
Himalayan River Girls, 146
Himalayan Trailblazer, 76, 77, 78, 114, 180
Himalayan Trust, 22
Himalayan Whitewater Challenge, 39, 53, 146–47
Hindu mythology, 158–60
Hitch, Rick, 87
Honnold, Alex, 176
Icarus Cup (Coupe Icare), 115–17, 129, 183, 184
Imja Tse, 79–80
India
bike ride to, 151–52, 153
kayaking in, 153–54, 155–58, 161–64, 166–68, 169–70
Indian subcontinent geology, 61–62
International Mountain Guides (IMG), 82, 86, 87, 108
Irvine, Andrew “Sandy,” 70, 71
Island Peak, 79–80
Isserman, Maurice, 89
Jaws (eddy), 136, 138–39, 140–41
Jungle Corridor, 148–49
K2, 46
Kathmandu, Nepal, 10–13, 27, 117
kayaking
equipment for, 43–44, 117–18
in India, 153–54, 155–58, 161–64, 166–68, 169–70
in Nepal, 140–44, 147–49
preparation for, 131–33, 136–37
Knowles, Peter, 135
Koirala, B. P., 64
Kumal, Tarka, 135–36
Lukla, walk to, 114–15
lunar eclipse, full, 163
Macartney-Snape, Tim, 168
Magar, Kelly, 53–54, 130, 155
Magar, Nim, 53–54, 124, 130, 137–38, 142, 155
Mallory, George, 69, 70–71
mani stones, 78
Mauna Kea, 67
Maya, Ang, 124
McIntyre, David, 104–5
McKinley, Mount, 68
McKinney, Steve, 49–50
McLean, Leonardo, xiii
media coverage, 179–82, 183–84
Mercer, Mount, 47
Miura, Yuichiro, 90
Moffatt, Gerry, 39, 40
Morris, James, 73
Mountain Blackstone, 77
Mountain Institute, 64
Mountain Professionals, 76
mountains, tallest, 51, 62, 67–68
movie, 115–17, 127–30, 182–83, 184–85
mythology, Hindu, 158–60
Namgyal Monastery Audio Visual Archive Center, 128
Nanga Parbat, 62
Nasonova, Elvira, 51–52
National Geographic Adventure, 181–82
National Geographic
Adventurer of the Year
Award, 173–78, 185–86
Nepal
child brides, 145
economics, 10
import tax, 54, 118
kayaking in, 140–44, 147–49
politics and government, 9, 10
Nepali Times, 147, 186
Nima, Tsering, 77, 114
Niviuk, 54–55, 80–81, 87, 173
Noel, John, 66, 71
Norgay, Tenzing, 72–74, 84, 96
North Pole, 65
Northwest Mountaineering Journal, 47–48
Odell, Noel, 71
oxygen, lack of, 102–4
Paddle Nepal, 53, 54, 117–18, 130, 147, 155
paddles, loss and recovery of, 149, 152–53
Pahari, Madhukar, 118, 130, 132, 140, 142–43, 155
paragliding
conversation about, 21–22
descent via, xi–xiv, 101–3, 106–8, 110
equipment, 47, 54–55, 80–81, 87
history of, 46–52
ideas about, 17–18, 30, 42
preparation for, 92, 98–99, 119–20
second/third legs of, 120–21, 123–25
parapente, 47–48
Pasong, Tsering, 76
Peak UK Himalayan Whitewater Challenge, 39, 53, 146–47
Peary, Robert E., 65
Pevec, Hamilton, 127–30, 182–83, 184–85
Phinney, Kimberly. See also website for expedition
expedition, end of, 170
expedition, support for, 57–59, 157, 158, 167, 179
Hanuman Airlines (documentary), 184–85
National Geographic
Adventurer of the Year
Award, 174–78
publicity efforts, 112, 180, 181–82, 183–84
Pokhara, Nepal
Blue Sky Paragliding, 20–22
described, 18–20
journey to, 13–15, 31–32
Potts, Mary Anne, 182
Prachanda, 9
Rai, Bhakta Kumar, 97, 179
Rai, Manish, 135–36
Rai, Susmita, 34–35, 38, 145–47, 179, 186
Raineri, Rodrigo, 45, 52, 76, 86, 91
Rampur-6, Nepal, 4–5
Rhino Rock, 147–48
Roche, Claire Bernier, xiii, 50–51, 97, 105, 106
Roche, Zebulon, xiii, 50–51, 97, 105, 106
Royal Geographical Society, 66, 68
Sarangkot, Nepal, 17–18
Schafer, Grayson, 56
scholarship fund, proposed, 60
Seven Summits, 51
Sherpa (ethnicity), 24–25
sherpa (job description), 24, 25–27, 56
Sherpa, Ang Gyalgen, 112, 113
Sherpa, Kili (Lakpa’s cousin), 24, 28, 29, 55, 56
Sherpa, Lakpa Tsheri
altitude sickness, 28
appearance, 20
arrest and attempted arrest, 112–13, 114–15
award, 173–75, 176–78, 185–86
bike ride to India, 151–52, 153
Camp I, 84–86
Camp II, 86, 93
Camp III, 86–87, 94
Camp IV, 93–95
childhood, 22–24, 28
education, 23, 27, 28
Everest Base Camp, 75–76, 81–84
Everest Base Camp, walk to, 78–80
Everest summit, climb to, 95–97
expedition, end of, 169–71, 178–79
expedition, life after, 186–87
expedition, plans for, 44–45, 46
expedition, reflections on, 187
family, 22, 27
funding and sponsors, 55, 56, 81, 124, 180
home, 23
illness, 156, 157
kayaking, in India, 153–54, 155–58, 161–64, 166–68, 169–70
kayaking, in Nepal, 140–44, 147–49
kayaking, preparation for, 131–33, 136–37
language skills, 155–56, 157, 177
Lukla, walk to, 114–15
mountain climbing, early, 28–30
moviemaking, 116–17, 183
paragliding, conversation about, 21–22
paragliding, descent via, xi–xiv, 101–3, 106–8, 110
paragliding, ideas about, 17–18, 30
paragliding, preparation for, 98–99
paragliding, second/third legs of, 120, 123–25
robbery and water chase of, 162–64
rock climbing, 24
Sherpa, Phu Dorji (Ang Bhai). See Ang Bhai
Sherpa, Yanjee (Lakpa’s wife), 56, 101, 112, 179
Shresthra, Shri Hari
bike ride to India, 151–52, 153
as cameraman, 81, 87–88
expedition, end of, 153
kayaking, 118, 130, 140–41, 143, 148
moviemaking, 183
paragliding, 119–20
Sikhdar, Radhanath, 63
Skoog, Lowell, 47–48
Solu-Khumbu area, Nepal, 21, 25
South Pole, 65
sponsors, 43–44, 53–55, 57, 58–59, 184
SPOT Messenger (GPS tracker), 59, 81, 101–2, 121, 144, 158
Sun Kosi River
about, 133–35, 154–55
Dead Man’s Eddy, 136, 137–38, 141–44
Jaws (eddy), 136, 138–39, 140–41
Jungle Corridor, 148–49
Rhino Rock, 147–48
Sunuwar, Babu
altitude sickness, 41–42, 53–54, 80, 85, 87, 94–95
appearance, 21
arrest and attempted arrest, 112–13, 114–15
award, 173–75, 176–78, 185–86
bike ride to India, 151–52, 153
Camp I, 84–86
Camp II, 86, 93
Camp III, 86–87, 94
Camp IV, 93–95
childhood, 6–8
education, 6–7
English skills, 57–58, 117, 177
Everest Base Camp, 75–76, 81–84
Everest Base Camp, walk to, 78–80
Everest summit, climb to, 95–97
expedition, end of, 169–71, 178–79
expedition, life after, 186–87
expedition, plans for, 44–45, 46
family, 4, 5–6
funding, 43–44, 53–55, 57, 58–59, 77, 81
home, 5
illness in India, 156, 157–58
Kathmandu, life in, 10–13
Kathmandu, running away from home to, 3–4, 7–9
kayaking, in India, 153–54, 155–58, 161–64, 166–68, 169–70
kayaking, in Nepal, 140–44, 147–49
kayaking, interest in, 7–8, 32–33
kayaking, learning about, 34, 35–40
kayaking, preparation for, 131–33, 136–37
Lukla, walk to, 114–15
moviemaking, 116–17
paragliding, career switch to, 40–41
paragliding, conversation about, 21–22
paragliding, descent via, xi–xiv, 101–3, 106–8, 110
paragliding, idea about, 42
paragliding, preparation for, 92, 98–99, 119–20
paragliding, second/third legs of, 120–21, 123–25
Pokhara, journey to, 13–15, 31–32
robbery and water chase of, 162–64
as trekking porter, 33
Sunuwar, Himalaya (Babu’s son), 101, 123, 187
Sunuwar, Krishna (Babu’s brother)
expedition, end of, 178–79
illness, 157–58
India border meeting, 152–53
kayaking, 141–43, 153–58, 161–64, 166–70
as river support crew member, 118, 130–31, 140, 144, 148
robbery and water chase of, 162–64
Sunuwar, Mingma Tashi (Babu’s son), 56, 101, 179
Sunuwar, Niraj (Babu’s son), 101, 145, 146, 147, 179
Sup’Air, 173
Tan, Richard, 80
Tethys Sea, 61
Thamel, Kathmandu, 11–13
Thapa, Mahendra Singh, 118
Thapa, Resham Bahadur, 118, 130, 132, 140–41, 143, 155
Tibetan Buddhism, 64
Traverso, Jim, 138–39
Treadway, Alex, 174, 177, 178, 186
Trollsas, Inka, 146
Tudor, Larry, 49–50
Turk, Jon, 175–76
Twight, Mark, 48
vol bivouac, 50
Waters, Ryan, 75–76, 81–83, 85, 93, 108, 113–15
Waugh, Andrew, 63–64
weather window for climbing, 45, 83–84, 92–93
Weaver, Stewart, 89
website for expedition
expedition posts, 108–10, 121, 144–45, 158, 167, 171, 178
post-expedition post, 180
pre-expedition post, 59–60
White Water Nepal (Knowles), 135
Wilson, Maurice, 71–72
wing, 54–55, 80–81, 87
World War I, 66–67
Younghusband, Francis, 66
Sano Babu Sunuwar tests out the new ultralight wing, smuggled into the country from Malaysia, at Kala Patthar near Everest Base Camp.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Nima Wang Chu (right) learns how to prepare the wing for takeoff from Sano Babu Sunuwar.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Ryan Waters (left) does the math with Sano Babu Sunuwar to see if they’ll actually clear the Northwest Ridge if he and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa take off from the summit.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Waters’s base camp at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa (left) and Sano Babu Sunuwar pose with the Nepali flag at Everest Base Camp.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Sano Babu Sunuwar, Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa, and Nima Wang Chu prepare the wing for takeoff on the Northeast Summit Ridge.
PHU DORJI SHERPA
Climbers cross a crevasse in the Western Cwm using aluminum ladders.
PHU DORJI SHERPA
Nima Wang Chu, one of the expedition’s two sherpas.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Phu Dorji, one of the expedition’s two sherpas.
PHU DORJI SHERPA
Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa calls David Arrufat on his cellular phone from Everest Base Camp to check on the location of the team’s paraglider.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
David Arrufat puts the APPI logo on Babu and Lakpa’s paraglider in Pokhara.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Shri Hari Shresthra (left), the team’s cameraman, and Balkrishna Basel enter Sagarmatha National Park on their way to deliver the paraglider to Everest Base Camp.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Balkrishna Basel holds the bag he smuggled the paraglider into Base Camp with, along with his clothes.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
Nima Wang Chu (left) watches as the team’s cameraman, Shri Hari Shresthra (center), films Babu’s inaugural flight with the new wing at Kala Patthar.
BALKRISHNA BASEL
The Sirkot headquarters of Babu and Lakpa’s new paragliding company, Flying Himalayan.
DAVE COSTELLO
Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa on his Royal Enfield motorcycle in Pokhara.
DAVE COSTELLO
From left to right: Shri Hari Shresthra, Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa, Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay, and Sano Babu Sunuwar.
PHU DORJI SHERPA
* Under the current Nepali system of government, individual villages are known as “wards.” They typically are numbered one through nine and grouped together with other nearby communities into slightly larger Village Development Committees (VDCs). So Babu’s family lives in Ward 6 of the Rampur VDC.
* There is now a single-lane dirt road running along the length of most of the Sun Kosi, as well as a small suspension footbridge connecting the trail to Rampur-6 to the new road.
* In kayaking or rafting, whitewater rapids are typically divided into six classes, each denoted with a Roman numeral. Class I is moving flat water with a few small waves; it is straightforward to navigate in a boat. Class II is relatively small rapids; waves
up to three feet; and wide, clear channels that are still somewhat easy to navigate. Class III is rapids with high, irregular waves and narrow routes through hazards. It often requires complex maneuvering to navigate in a boat. Class IV is difficult rapids with restricted passages, requiring precise maneuvering in turbulent water. Conditions often make rescue difficult. Class V is extremely difficult, long, and violent rapids. Rescue conditions are exceedingly difficult, and there is a significant hazard to life in the event of a mishap. Class VI is typically considered unrunnable.
* According to Nepal’s 2001 National Census. That number has since jumped to 65.9 percent, according to the 2011 National Census.
* The offices of Blue Sky Paragliding moved in April 2013 to another location in the Lakeside area, farther south. The large picture of Hanuman is gone, but the yeti still stands watch near the entrance.
* The term Sherpa is actually the anglicized mispronunciation of the ethnic designation “Shar-wa” (literally “person from the east”). Sharwa among themselves have approximately twenty surnames, or clans (historically originating in the Tibetan province of Kham), one of which is, confusingly enough, Sharwa.
† Lhakpa can also be spelled without the h when used as a given name, which is how Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa chooses to spell his name, and thus is how he is referred to here.
‡ “Tsheri” is the Tibetan spelling. It would be “Chirring” in Nepali.
§ The Himalayan Trust is a nonprofit organization that was started by Sir Edmund Hillary. It continues to be involved in helping Sherpas better their communities through projects they themselves support but request assistance for.
* Dialects between Sherpa communities vary as much as 30 percent—not enough to officially count as separate languages, but enough to be thoroughly confusing.
† Potatoes, although currently the main cash crop in the Sherpa economy, are a fairly recent phenomenon in Nepal—introduced first in the nineteenth century by British travelers. Traditionally, Sherpa agriculture relied on maize, barley, buckwheat, and vegetables.
* Two years earlier, Giorgio had stood on top of Everest and placed a Red Sox cap on the summit, along with an American flag for the same purpose, at a lama’s suggestion. He reportedly also burned a Yankees cap with kerosene when he returned to Base Camp. The Red Sox didn’t win the World Series that year, but Giorgio’s 2003 gesture must have done the trick: Boston claimed the World Series title in 2004, breaking its eighty-six year drought.
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