Ang Tharkay

Born in 1908, Ang Tharkay was one of the leading Sherpas of the exploration period of the Himalaya. He was a regular on expeditions by Eric Shipton as well as sirdar for the successful French ascent of Annapurna. He was also on the 1951 Everest Reconnaissance – the trip in which Shipton met Hillary, thus leading to Hillary’s place on the 1953 team.

Ang Tharkay opened his own guiding service in 1954, taking trekkers up Kangchenjunga, although he also continued to work for some hi