Meet Ang Phurba, one of the incredible Sherpas who shows us all how it’s done on expeditions in Nepal…
This awesome adventurer is 28 and married with 2 amazing kids who are already swinging their ice axes aged 7 and 4!
How long have you been working as a sherpa?
I’ve been in the mountain from 2005. Actually I am from the Sherpa caste, in that case you can say I am a sherpa from the date of birth.
How many times have you climbed Everest and what other 8000m peaks have you climbed?
3 x Everest, 2 x Manaslu, 1 x Cho Oyu,1 x Makalu, 1 x Annapurna
What’s the hardest thing about the job?
I love challenging job. Long toilet on the high altitude is the hardest job for me.
What do you enjoy the most about your work?
To meet the different kind of people from the different part of the world. And of course, money after the trip is most enjoyable things.
What would you do if you found a stash of cash?
I will try to find the owner of the money and handover to him. If I don’t find him, I will buy a house and spend for the study for my kids. And of course, I will buy beers for my friends for a month.
When you’re not on a trip, where is home and who do you share it with?
I am from Sankhuwasave (Makalu area). I stay with my wife in Kathmandu for the study of my kids.
What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a trip?
To hug my wife and kiss my kids.
What was your favourite ever moment on a trip?
The first time I get on the top of Everest and to work with Rolf on Island Peak and Ama Dablam trip (as far as we know there was no bribery involved in answering this question!)
If there was one place in the world you could visit, where would it be?
It is Chamonix in the world and the Moon in the universe.
What’s your favourite snack to have on a mountain?
Potato bread with hot green chilly.
If you weren’t a guide what would you be doing?
A Ghurka in the British Army.
What is the strangest or most useless thing that you seen a client bring on a trip?
I saw a client bring golf club during his climb on Everest in 2011.
What food to crave when away from home?
MOMO (momo is a type of Nepalese dumpling).
If you could have any superpower what would it be: AND WHY!
Invisible: I could slap our politician, capture their black money and distribute to the needy people.