Climbers carefully make their way up the steep slopes of Mount Everest.

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The World’s Most Dangerous Job

Sherpa guides face deadly conditions to help climbers reach the top of Mount Everest. 

April 29, 2024
By Ellen Song

As You Read, Think About: What are some of the dangers of climbing Mount Everest?

PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP via Getty Images

Kami Rita Sherpa

Next month, hundreds of adventurers will attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth. For many, climbing to the top of Everest’s steep, icy slopes is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. But Kami Rita Sherpa has scaled Everest a record 28 times. Last year, he did it twice in one week. 

Kami Rita is an expert guide who helps others reach the top of the world. Without support from guides like Kami Rita, it would be impossible for most climbers to get there.

Working on Everest means risking serious injury—or even death. As more climbers try to scale Everest each year, the job of guides is growing more dangerous.

Next month, hundreds of adventurers will attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. It’s the tallest mountain on Earth. For many, climbing to the top of Everest is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. But Kami Rita Sherpa has scaled Everest a record 28 times. Last year, he did it twice in one week. 

Kami Rita is an expert guide. He helps others reach the top of the world. Without support from guides like him, it would be impossible for most climbers to get there.

Working on Everest means risking serious injury—or even death. More climbers try to scale Everest each year. The job of guides is growing more dangerous.

Tashi Sherpa/AP Images

A Sherpa porter carries a massive load toward the Everest base camp in Nepal.

Working on Everest 

Rising more than 5 miles above sea level, Everest sits on the border of the Asian countries of China and Nepal. Kami Rita is a member of the Sherpa people, an ethnic group that lives in Nepal’s mountainous regions. (Like many Sherpas, Kami Rita uses “Sherpa” as his last name.) Sherpas are used to living at a high altitude, and many become skilled mountaineers. 

Sherpas have several vital jobs on Everest. Some work as porters. They haul food, tents, and equipment to the camps where climbers rest during the treacherous journey. Others prepare the icy path to the top, setting ladders and safety ropes to prevent deadly falls. 

As a guide, Kami Rita’s job is to safely lead climbers up and down Everest. If a climber becomes ill or injured, guides may spend hours carrying them to safety. 

Everest rises more than 5 miles above sea level. It sits on the border of the Asian countries of China and Nepal. Kami Rita is a member of the Sherpa people. They are an ethnic group that lives in Nepal’s mountainous regions. (Like many Sherpas, Kami Rita uses “Sherpa” as his last name.) Sherpas are used to living at a high altitude. Many become skilled mountaineers.

Sherpas have several vital jobs on Everest. Some work as porters. They haul food, tents, and equipment to camps. Climbers rest at the camps during their treacherous journey. Other Sherpas prepare the icy path to the top of the mountain. They set ladders and safety ropes to prevent deadly falls.

As a guide, Kami Rita’s job is to safely lead climbers up and down Everest. Climbers sometimes get ill or injured. When that happens, guides may spend hours carrying them to safety.

Alun Richardson/Westend61/Getty Images

On Everest, climbers must walk across metal ladders to avoid falling into deep cracks in the ice called crevasses. 

Danger at Every Turn

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

The conditions on Everest are punishing. The trek to the top can take several weeks, and danger awaits at every turn. The weather is harsh and unpredictable. Near the summit, the temperature never gets above freezing. 

At about 26,000 feet, climbers enter what’s known as the Death Zone. The air has little oxygen, so most climbers wear oxygen masks. Even so, they can suffer from altitude sickness. This serious condition leaves them weak and confused—and it can be deadly.

In the past century, more than 320 people have died on Everest. That includes more than 100 Sherpas. They’re at greater risk than other climbers because they often pass through the most dangerous sections several times. 

On April 18, 2014, an avalanche killed 16 Sherpas on Everest. They had been carrying gear through an area called the Khumbu Icefall. Last April, three Sherpas died in the same area when a huge slab of ice broke off and buried them. That was part of one of the deadliest years ever on Everest. 

The conditions on Everest are punishing. The trek to the top can take several weeks. Danger awaits at every turn. The weather is harsh and unpredictable. Near the summit, the temperature never gets above freezing. 

At about 26,000 feet, climbers enter what’s known as the Death Zone. At that height, the air has little oxygen. Most climbers wear oxygen masks. Even so, they can suffer from altitude sickness. This serious condition leaves them weak and confused. It can also be deadly.

In the past century, more than 320 people have died on Everest. That includes more than 100 Sherpas. They often pass through the most dangerous sections several times. That puts them at a greater risk than other climbers.

On April 18, 2014, an avalanche killed 16 Sherpas on Everest. They had been carrying gear through an area called the Khumbu Icefall. Last April, three Sherpas died in the same area. A huge slab of ice broke off and buried them. That tragedy was part of one of the deadliest years ever on Everest. 

The Climb Continues

Why would hundreds of Sherpas do what is considered one of the world’s most dangerous jobs? For many, the answer is money. The average Nepalese worker earns about $1,400 per year. But many Sherpas on Everest make twice that amount during one season. Experienced guides like Kami Rita can earn $10,000 or more for a single trip up the mountain. 

“To earn enough money as a Sherpa guide, you need to have a lot of fame, and you need to do many climbs,” says Kami Rita. 

The dangers of the job are part of the reason Kami Rita doesn’t want his children to follow in his footsteps. He’s used the money he’s earned working on Everest to send both of his kids to college. 

Kami Rita plans to keep working as a guide for at least a few more years. After 30 years on the job, he says there’s still something incredible about climbing Everest.

“It’s not about getting to the top of the mountain,” he says. “It’s about helping different people make their big dreams come true.”

Sherpas have what is considered one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. Why do hundreds of Sherpas do it? For many, the answer is money. The average Nepalese worker earns about $1,400 per year. But many Sherpas on Everest make twice that amount during one season. Experienced guides like Kami Rita can earn $10,000 or more for a single trip up the mountain. 

“To earn enough money as a Sherpa guide, you need to have a lot of fame, and you need to do many climbs,” says Kami Rita.  

Kami Rita doesn’t want his children to follow in his footsteps. The dangers of the job are part of the reason. He’s used the money he’s earned working on Everest to send both of his kids to college.  

Kami Rita has worked on Everest for 30 years. He plans to keep working as a guide for at least a few more years. He says there’s still something incredible about climbing Everest.

“It’s not about getting to the top of the mountain,” he says. “It’s about helping different people make their big dreams come true.”

1. Based on the article, who are Sherpas?

2. What are some of the tasks Sherpas do on Mount Everest? Why are these tasks important?

3. According to the article, why are many Sherpas willing to face the dangers involved in doing their jobs on Mount Everest?

1. Based on the article, who are Sherpas?

2. What are some of the tasks Sherpas do on Mount Everest? Why are these tasks important?

3. According to the article, why are many Sherpas willing to face the dangers involved in doing their jobs on Mount Everest?

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