American Himalayan Foundation

Massive flood ravages Thame village in Nepal's Everest region.

We are devastated to hear about the flash flood that has devastated the village. This beautiful village, home to some of the great Sherpa mountaineers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected.

Flash flood, mudslide devastate Thame Village in Solukhumbu A devastating flash flood, accompanied by a mudslide and debris, swept through Thame village in Solukhumbu district on Friday afternoon, damaging nearly half of the settlement.

A Champion Sherpa Died Guiding Foreigners. Is It Too Dangerous? Tenjen Lama Sherpa was one of the most storied mountain guides of his generation. Now, he and two of his brothers are dead, and their youngest brother must keep climbing to make a living.

AHF is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a second grant from the USAID American Schools and Hospitals Abroad Initiative for the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC)! HRDC aims to purchase innovative surgical equipment, enhance ward facilities, expand physiotherapy services, and re-equip its assistive device manufacturing workshop.

We look forward to seeing HRDC continue transforming the lives of children with disabilities across Nepal! Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/hrdcnepal/posts/pfbid08B8ZXCcinM7ujd4TRbZdfoSXkhqAM8WDjJSkyGmSTgwnc8xqcRPMdNeFBdBRNdcLl

📷 Chime Tashi Lama

Today, we celebrate . 71 years ago, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary first summited Everest, inspiring decades of mountaineers. But did you know this year marks a century since George Mallory and Sandy Irvine vanished chasing Everest's summit in 1924? (Photo from the expedition above)

Today, Sherpas still brave its heights, not for glory, but to take care of their families. At AHF, we're committed to supporting these communities. This Everest Day, join our Base Camp Crew with a monthly gift or one-time donation. Your kindness will be a lifeline for those in need.

Together, let's continue to climb mountains. Make a difference by donating to AHF today: https://www.himalayan-foundation.org/donate

🐉 Losar Tashi Delek! 🐉

Welcome to the Year of the Wood Dragon (2151 in the Tibetan calendar)! The Wood Dragon brings strength, wisdom, and good fortune.

May this year bring you abundance, good health, and joy.

- Artwork by Jean Michel Terrier

Claim your piece of Everest history! Bring home a piece of Everest history while helping the American Himalayan Foundation continue our work assisting those in need. There are limited numbers available of all items, so don't miss out!

Check out our featured products below:
1. Oxygen tank removed from Everest during cleanup efforts, donated by Mountain Hardwear and signed by all event speakers
2. Everest 70th commemorative poster designed by Studio Number One, signed by all of the event speakers.

Check out even more memorabilia on our merch page: https://himalayanfoundation.simpleshop.com

There's still time to register for the event! Check out our website for more information.

CGO Studios Kami Rita Sherpa kristin_harila Jon Krakauer Conrad Anker

We'd like to introduce the final two speakers for our Everest 70th celebration (which is only 2 weeks away!): climbing legend Conrad Anker and acclaimed author Jon Krakauer.

Conrad Anker - first climbed Everest in 1999 and found George Mallory, the legendary Everest explorer lost to the mountain in 1924. Since then, he has summited twice more and, for even more fun, scaled technically challenging peaks in Antarctica, Pakistan, Patagonia, and Yosemite. Conrad led the North Face climbing team for many years and is a director of the American Himalayan Foundation.

Jon Krakauer - award-winning author, investigative journalist, and climber serves as the Chair of AHF. He summited Everest during the well-known season of 1996 and chronicled it in what would later become his bestselling book, Into Thin Air. He directed proceeds from the book to help the people of the Himalaya. He is an outspoken advocate against the trafficking of girls in Nepal.

If you'd like to register for the dinner, check out the events page on our website.

📷 Courtesy of Jimmy Chin and Jon Krakauer


kristin_harila Kami Rita Sherpa Geographic Expeditions

We are so excited to introduce our all-star Sherpa speakers at AHF's Everest 70th celebration in three weeks: Kami Rita Sherpa and Apa Sherpa:

Kami Rita Sherpa - is from the Thame Valley in the Everest region and has climbed Everest a record 28 times. Just this month, he made his 42nd ascent on an 8,000-meter peak, setting a new record. Kami Rita risks it all to provide a future for his family. He is one of the world’s pre-eminent mountaineers and is an advocate for reducing risk and inequity for mountaineering workers. In response to a question about the future of mountaineering and climate change, he was recently quoted as saying “Without Sherpas, there is no mountaineering, and without ice, we are done.”

Apa Sherpa - Tiger of the Himalaya, also from Thame Valley, is extremely kind and humble. He began his climbing career in 1985, working as a kitchen boy and porter until his first Everest summit in 1990. He went on to summit Everest 21 times, holding the world record until 2018 when Kami Rita Sherpa surpassed it. Today Apa is retired from climbing and focused on giving back to his community. Through The Apa Sherpa Foundation, he gives Sherpa children the chance to get a good education. In Apa's famous words, "Without an education, we have no choice."

If you'd like to register for the dinner, check out the events page on our website.

📷 Courtesy of Kami Rita Sherpa and the Apa Sherpa Foundation


Conrad Anker kristin_harila Jon Krakauer Geographic Expeditions

Just one month to go until AHF's Everest 70th celebration on October 26! This week, we're profiling another one of our rockstar speakers, kristin_harila:

Kristin is a Norwegian climber who first came to the Himalaya in 2019 to pursue her dream of climbing the world's tallest peaks. Since then, Kristin has set an astounding number of records on the fourteen 8,000-meter mountains.

This year she became the fastest person, alongside her climbing partner Tenjin Lama Sherpa, to climb all of the 8000'ers in only 3 months.

Kristin also holds the speed record for being the fastest woman to climb Everest and Lhotse in less than 8 hours and set the speed record on the five highest peaks in the world. She is a strong advocate for women in mountaineering.

If you'd like to register for the dinner, check out the events page on our website.

📷 Courtesy of Kristin Harila


Kami Rita Sherpa Jon Krakauer Conrad Anker Geographic Expeditions

AHF's Everest 70th celebration is just five weeks away, and we'd like to share our incredible speaker lineup with you! First up: Peter Hillary and Norbu Tenzing, the sons of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first men to climb Everest In 1953.

Peter Hillary - Explorer and author Peter Hillary’s philosophy is to live life to the fullest. He started going on adventures with his father, Sir Edmund Hillary, when he was seven. He is indelibly linked to Everest both by being the son of Sir Edmund Hillary, and also by his own accomplishments: climbing Everest twice and doing the seven summits. Peter has been on over 40 mountaineering expeditions around the world.
Peter continues his father's legacy of helping those in need through the Himalayan Trust New Zealand, of which he is Chairman. He is also a director of the American Himalayan Foundation.

Norbu Tenzing - Norbu is the Vice President of AHF and has been with the organization since 1993. His deep ties to the Himalaya put him in a unique position to bring AHF’s vital work closer to the hearts and minds of those who are drawn to the region. Growing up in Darjeeling, he spent his childhood going on adventures in Sikkim, Nepal, and Bhutan with his father Tenzing Norgay. Like his father, Norbu is an advocate for reducing risk and inequity for mountaineering workers.

If you'd like to register for the dinner, check out the events page on our website.

Photo credit: The Hillary Family


Conrad Anker Jon Krakauer kristin_harila Kami Rita Sherpa GEOEX

"I enjoy every moment of life, but of course there are moments of extreme sadness — especially when you see so much suffering. But this should kindle your compassion, and if it kindles your compassion, you go to a stronger, healthier, more meaningful way of being. That’s what I call happiness."

The ‘World’s Happiest Man’ Shares His Three Rules for Life A searching, playful, provocative discussion with the Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard.

Love the stripes! 🐅
It’s International Tiger Day! AHF and the Fund for the Tiger are coming together to protect the majestic tigers that roam the Himalaya.

And it’s none too soon. Tigers are endangered across all their ranges, cruelly poached for their skin and bones. But we can’t let this magnificent species vanish from the earth. Join the fight to give tigers a chance and preserve the invaluable ecosystems where they roam in the Himalayas - before it’s too late.

Photo: Brian Weirum

And another big congratulations to Lhakpa Sherpa, 10-time Everester, for a successful ascent of K2 yesterday!

Everest queen Lhakpa, Photojournalist Purnima among others scale K2 A record-holding woman climber among others today scaled the world's second highest peak in Pakistan.

Congratulations to kristin_harila 🇳🇴 and Tenjen Sherpa 🇳🇵 on completing all 14 8000m peaks in only three months!

Good luck to the team as they return to Shishasbangma and Cho Oyu to attempt all 14 peaks twice!

Kristin Harila, Tenjen Sherpa world's fastest to climb 14 peaks in 92 days Norwegian climber Kristin Harila and Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa today scaled the world’s second highest peak in Pakistan completing their 14 8000ers in three months.

As we celebrate Sir Edmund Hillary’s birthday today, AHF is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated poster commemorating the 70th anniversary of the historic first ascent of Mount Everest! Proudly produced by CGO Studios and beautifully designed by the world-renowned Studio Number One, the design studio founded by iconic artist Shepard Fairey, this stunning artwork captures the spirit of human resilience and the landmark achievement of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

📆 STAY TUNED for details on how you can obtain your own copy of the poster in the coming months!

A very happy 88th birthday to you, your Holiness. Your profound teachings of compassion, peace, and mindfulness have touched the hearts of millions. May your birthday be filled with joy, love, and blessings.


Photo credit: Peg Skarpinski

Repost from

“Seventy years ago, on the eve of her coronation, my late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, received the wonderful news that a British Team, led by Colonel, later Lord, John Hunt, had successfully climbed Mount Everest.”

Today at Buckingham Palace, The King welcomed Ms. Sue Leyden (daughter of Lord Hunt), Mr. Peter Hillary (son of Sir Edmund Hillary) and Mr. Jamling Norgay (son of Mr. Tenzing Norgay) to mark the 70th anniversary of the ascent of Mount Everest.

Read more here: https://people.com/king-charles-honors-1953-mount-everest-climb-queen-elizabeth-coronation-7546593

New York's Queens street has officially been co-named "Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Way" on the occasion of the platinum jubilee of the first ascent of Mt Everest.

New York street co-named Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Way on Everest Day New York’s Queens street has officially been co-named “Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Way” on the occasion of the platinum jubilee of the first ascent of Mt Everest.

Today, May 29, marks the 70th anniversary of the first summit of Mt. Everest. “Thu che chey Chomolungma” (thank you, Everest) were Tenzing Norgay's first words as he and Sir Edmund Hillary stood on the summit on May 29, 1953. 70 years later, we still have a lot to be thankful for.

To commemorate this important milestone and to carry on the spirit of giving back inspired by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, your support means the world to us. Working together with our local partners, the American Himalayan Foundation plays a vital role in meeting the needs of those who have no one else to turn to.

We’d love to have you join us and make a real, positive difference in the lives of people who have no one else. Learn how you can support our work here: https://www.himalayan-foundation.org/everest-70th

It is a grueling competition with monetary rewards and abundant dangers, turning what is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most climbers into a repeat performance for the veteran Sherpas.

4 Everest Ascents in 10 Days: Sherpas Battle for a Climbing Record The friendly but grueling competition mixes monetary rewards with abundant dangers for a pair of veteran mountain guides.

AHF Vice President Norbu Tenzing just returned from Nepal where Everest fever was running high as expeditions began their final push for the summit. Everest Day celebration plans for May 29th were well underway, made especially poignant this year by the 70th anniversary of the Big Climb.

To commemorate this historic occasion, the sons of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary, Norbu Tenzing and Peter Hillary embarked on the Hillary & Tenzing Summit Challenge to help people in need in the Himalaya.

To participate in the Summit Challenge and help transform the lives of those in the Himalaya, visit our website: https://www.himalayan-foundation.org/everest-70th

Congratulations, Kami Rita!

This Sherpa set a world record with 27 summits of Mount Everest. Then, he topped himself with a 28th. "This journey taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, determination, and the power of human spirit," Kami Rita Sherpa wrote after his 27th trek.

Hari Budha Magar reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain at 3pm on Friday, having started the climb on 17 April – exactly 13 years since he lost his legs after an IED explosion.

Double amputee Gurkha veteran reaches summit of Mount Everest Hari Budha Magar reached the peak despite being a double amputee since an explosion in Afghanistan

Later this month, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. On the morning of May 29, 1953, as they stood on the summit together, Sir Ed described the view, “The whole world around us lay spread out like a giant relief map.” On their return, the world was at their feet.

Both Sir Ed and Tenzing dedicated their lives to helping those who lived in the high mountains that had made them famous. AHF is proud to continue their legacy. Read a message from their sons, Norbu Tenzing and Peter Hillary, reflecting on this milestone on our website.

On this day, 13.05.1995, British climber Alison Hargreaves became the first-ever woman to have reached the summit of Mt (8848.86 m) solo without bottled oxygen. https://buff.ly/2Gsclb0