Kanchha Sherpa, the sole surviving member of the historic 1953 expedition that first summited Mount Everest, passed away peacefully at his home in Kapan, Kathmandu, on Thursday. He was 92 years old. The Nepal Mountaineering Association confirmed his death, with President Phur Gelje Sherpa describing it as the end of a significant chapter in mountaineering history. Kanchha had been unwell for some time before his passing. His last rites are scheduled for Monday. Born in 1933 in Namche Bazar, the gateway to Everest, Kanchha began his mountaineering career at 19 and remained active in the field until he was 50. He was one of three Sherpas who reached the final camp before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made their historic ascent to the 8,849-meter peak on May 29, 1953. In a March 2024 interview with The Associated Press, Kanchha expressed concerns about overcrowding and environmental degradation on Everest, urging climbers to respect the mountain, which Sherpas revere as Qomolangma, or the goddess mother of the world. He is survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, and grandchildren.
Kanchha Sherpa, last surviving member of 1953 Mount Everest expedition, dies at 92
