A Sherpa Girl near Mount Everest

May, 1998  

This tiny little sherpani (a Sherpa girl) met me hiking way up above Namche Bazaar, high along the Everest trek in Nepal.

She was so small, and she was carrying the tiniest pack I'd ever seen — not much bigger than a Texas grapefruit — clutching onto the tumpline, which was just twine and a rag, she was determined to go it alone.  Her dress was hardly more than rags on top of tatters and patches. I heard her chug up the trail behind me, panting along quietly.  She would not let anyone help with her little load, and wouldn't even accept a piece of candy.  She was all alone, miles from any home or dwelling that I could see.  I hadn't seen anyone else on the trail, and didn't, for hours.

Every time I look at her, with her runny nose and leathery, sunburned skin, I can still hear her struggling little breaths, and her tiny feet, crunching along the path, forging ahead in life.

At 15,000' or not, this beautiful girl took my breath away.

Michael Hawley

mike@media.mit.edu