If you think it’s tough to help fight climate change by riding your bike to work instead of driving, Utah resident Apa Sherpa will probably make you feel like a wimp. That’s because he’s just climbed to the top of Mount Everest to unveil a banner reading, “Stop Climate Change, Let the Himalayas Live!”
A resident of Salt Lake City since 2006, Apa, 49, has now climbed Everest a record 19 times since 1990 — including twice in 1992. His most recent ascent was part of a WWF Nepal campaign to raise awareness of how climate change is impacting the Himalayas.
A native of the village of Thame, Apa has seen — and experienced — that impact first hand. Twenty-four years ago, a glacial lake burst through its banks, flooding the area and washing away half of Sherpa’s land. Such glacial lake outburst floods are one of the most visible signs of climate change in the region, according to WWF.
Melting glaciers in the Himalayas also threaten the drinking and agricultural water supplies of nearly 2 billion people in Asia.
Upon reaching the summit of Everest this time, Apa also left behind a sacred vase blessed by the Buddhist spiritual leader the Venerable Rinpoche of Tengboche. The vase holds 400 sacred ingredients to restore the sanctity of the Himalayas’ sacred valleys and protect them from climate change.
Apa is expected to be back home in Salt Lake City later this month. He will be honored at Utah’s Best of State ceremony on May 30, receiving recognition in the Sports Athlete category.
