[Spirochete]

Sherpas were mostly yak herders and traders living in the Himalayas until Nepal opened its borders to tourism in 1950. Their stamina and knowledge of the mountains make them expert guides and porters for foreign mountaineers.

But until Europeans came along, none of them had ever been to the summit of Everest?

[NormsRevenge]

I don’t know the history of Everest that well to answer that, good question. Sounds like a few may have been of hardy enough stock to do it with the luck of good weather and such..

I get over 25,000 feet, just put a mimosa in one hand and earphones in the other, I’m good.

[wagglebee]

But until Europeans came along, none of them had ever been to the summit of Everest?

I read once that none of them had ever even considered it because they saw no point in risking their lives without reason.

[agooga]

It takes a pretty massive expedition/assault style trek to get to the summit of Everest. E. Hilary was the first human to summit— not even the locals could do it (or perhaps would want to) until anglos came along.

[sagar]

“But until Europeans came along, none of them had ever been to the summit of Everest?”

Europeans weren’t climbing any of the Alpine mountains either. And they are like ten times shorter than the Himalayas.

Americans weren’t climbing Mt. McKinley until the the 20th century.

The point of climbing a mountain such as Everest before it was technically possible and economically viable? Why would any sane individual risk climbing a mountain for no reason? At least, for the Sherpas, the mountain means business — so they climb or assist tourists/climbers.