Climbing Temperatures: On Top of the World

Rising temperatures increase the danger for the Sherpas of Mt. Everest.

Mingma Sherpa, a young high school graduate from Kathmandu visits her ancestral village of Phortse and learns about climate change from her own family. Mingma’s father, Phinjo Sherpa, has worked as a Himalayan mountaineer for 23 years, having climbed Mt Everest at least 8 times. Phinjo describes how rising temperatures have led to rockfalls and avalanches and the melting of the Everest base camp. From her mother Phinjo learns how rising temperatures and changes in rainfall have sparked an insect infestation It takes 3 days to walk to their home village of Phortse set at 3840m, but it’s still feeling the heat.