When Dawa Sherpa, 52, went missing between Camp III and Camp IV on Everest in late May, the odds of finding him alive were brutal. He’d vanished without food, water, or supplemental oxygen—three things most people assume are non-negotiable for survival on the world’s highest mountain. Nearly a week later, he was found. And he was alive.
The Nepali guide had been descending with a Polish climber after they failed to summit. When they separated on May 29, his client made it back to base camp. Dawa, somehow, managed to navigate the treacherous Khumbu Icefall alone—even after the fixed ladders had been removed for the season. He wasn’t spotted until the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee’s cleanup crew located him above base camp and brought him down to safety. By then, he’d spent nearly seven days on the mountain with essentially nothing.
What makes this survival story remarkable isn’t just the improbability. It’s the broader context: this was the tail end of a chaotic climbing season. Over 1,000 climbers and their guides summited Everest this year, driven by 494 government permits. Five people didn’t make it down alive. Many climbers were stuck waiting at base camp in April when a towering block of glacial ice delayed route access. Then, when the season finally wrapped, Dawa was still out there—alone, without the gear or provisions that typically separate life from death at 8,000 meters.
His daughter, Mhendo Lhamo Sherpa, spoke to his condition from the hospital, where he’s being treated for frostbite and other complications.“He recognised me…is good and speaks,”she said.“We are happy.”That’s understated relief—the kind that comes when the impossible becomes real. The Nepal Mount Everest hiking company called it nothing short of a miracle. It’s hard to argue with that assessment.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
