Our Sherpa Family

Our guests are treated like family and they absolutely love our Sherpa family!

You will have to look up Sherpa beliefs in Buddhism and reincarnation to understand how Eoin now has several "sons, daughters and grandchildren"  in Nepal.

KAMI NURBU SHERPA

Kami was born and raised in the village of Ghat, Solu-khumbu. He has a Nepal Tourism Class A guide’s license. Over the years he has proven to be a great guide and friend and is now part of the family; Eoin's “Sherpa son". Kami, has organized and guided all 25 treks to Everest Base Camp and the surrounding area plus additional treks in other regions in the Himalayas. He is also a freelance contract guide when not working with Sherpa Encounters.

Kami is very well known as a revered trekking guide in the Solu-khumbu. He has an intimate knowledge and connection with all things Sherpa.

And if that's not enough, he's also a pretty funny character and singer/ dancer. But don't take our word for that! Come and find out for yourself.

PASANG YANGJEE SHERPA

Pasang Yangjee is Kami's wife and the mother of their three children. She has assisted on several previous treks with us but now runs their family tea house in Ghat. We stay in their home on our first and last night of our treks so you will have a glimpse right away into Sherpa home life. You will enjoy Pasang's great hospitality and cooking. When asked "who is really the brains and boss of their operation, she or Kami".  She just smiles and gives a muffled giggle. You will love her!

FUNURU SHERPA

Funuru is also Eoin’s “Sherpa son.” When they first met, Funuru was working as a ticket agent at the Lukla airport and running a small leased tea house with his wonderful wife Dolma. They were just 21 and 18 years old!

Eoin saw something special in both of them. Through Sherpa Encounters they started out in 2005 with a satellite internet business together in Lukla. Funuru also ran a small cyber café.  It was from this initial partnership investment that Eoin became the “Sherpa Father”  of both Kami and Funuru.  Funuru: has said about Eoin “You have done for us what only a father would do for a son!” “My father died when I was three and you have come now into our life, you must be my reincarnated father.”

(The truth be told, Eoin was just wanting direct communications to the Khumbu without the middle men of Kathmandu, but he is very proud to be Funuru's Sherpa father”)

Funuru has honed his business and leadership skills from his humble beginnings. He now manages two domestic airlines in Lukla. He is the emergency helicopter dispatcher for Manang Helicopters and he owns the travel agency in Kathmandu that takes care of most of the Everest Climbing groups and trekking agencies in Nepal.  Our groups enjoy through Funuru's network, every privilege and advantage for our flights, special needs and in the rare case of a helicopter evacuation, a direct line to Funuru with immediate response. He is highly respected and very influential in the Khumbu.

PASANG NURU SHERPA

Pasang has been with Eoin on almost every trek. He is also one of Eoin's “Sherpa sons”.  He owns and runs the Jopkees or Dzoichoiks (they are a smaller version of a yak) that carry our luggage and equipment from tea house to tea house. You will not find a gentler and more caring man towards his animals’ anywhere. His pack animals are in the best of condition and he treats them with great love and respect. They have no sores or rub points. He never strikes them or even has to raise his voice. They are hand fed each morning by Pasang and enjoy a high standard of care compared to other beasts of burden in the region.

Pasang was also a Climbing Sherpa, setting anchors and ropes for climbs up Island Peak, Mera Peak and others. His last climb was Island Peak with our very own Captain Canada (Austin Trasolini). After that "The Pappa" convinced him that he should not do any more high altitude technical climbs. He has a wonderful wife, Hemi and two beautiful children who would have no father and no support if he were killed or injured while climbing.  He is a very competent guide and Yak team driver, a waiter and a wonderful “Sherpa son”. His smile is infectous!

NGIMA YANGJEE SHERPA

Ngima Yangjee is one of Eoin’s “Sherpa daughters”. She did her first trek as a female Sherpa helper in 2008 when she was 15 years old. She has now been on 12 treks with us. She was born in Lukla and educated in a tiny stone school.  She is now fluent in English and an important part of the success of many of our treks. Her mother passed away several years ago leaving her with the full care of her two younger sisters, and she has flourished as the family leader. She is now a Mom herself. Her daughter Pasang Chutin by tradition, becomes Eoin's honarary “Sherpa granddaughter”

Ngima Yangjee continues to support our treks in many other ways. She is experienced and capable of leading her own groups and when we have woman's groups that request a female Sherpa guide, Ngima Yangjee or her younger sister Ngima Lhamu can take the group. She has been so beloved by everyone who has met her that after the devastating earthquake of 2015 completely destroyed their home, several of our past trekkers from around the world pitched in to build her whole family a new earthquake proof house.

We always stop for tea and her family's hospitality.

BUDDHI AND DOLMA TAMANG

Buddhi and Dolma are Eoin’s “Tamang children” in Nepal.  Tamang is a sect of people with more Indian heritage. They live along with the Sherpa's in the high mountains and in other regions of Nepal. They were very young when Eoin first met them. They are experienced in trek support and logistics looking after us in the Mountains and in Kathmandu. They are hard working entrepreneurs and they know the region very well. Buddhi now owns the main Wi-Fi system that serves the entire Khumbu. Our groups have some very special surprises and connectivity privileges when using their devices while on the trek. His wife Dolma, who is college educated, is now the Director of Sherpa Encounters operations in Kathmandu. She looks after all the Oxygen equipment, government agencies, cell phones and off season logistics. She also provides great shopping tours in Kathmandu for our guests with special access to wholesalers in the crazy Thamel market shopping district in Kathmandu. Shopping with Dolma in Kathmandu is lots of fun and a special treat for our guests.

DAYANGDU SHERPA

Dayangdu is Kami's daughter and Eoin’s “Sherpa granddaughter”. We have seen her grow up and mature from a small child into a lovely confident college girl. She has been a Sherpa helper over several years during school breaks. She speaks, reads and writes excellent English.

No one works harder than Dayangdu to make sure our guests are well looked after and that every need is attended to.

NGIMA LHAMU SHERPA

Ngima Lhamu is Ngima Yangjee's younger sister.

(yes, they are both named Ngima because they were both born on Sunday. Sherpa people are named for the day of the week they were born.)