It was over dinner with Dawa seventeen years ago that the idea first came to us of placing our trekking business with Sherpa Brothers PVT for our third Himalayan expedition. It was to be an ambitious project trekking through remote valleys, crossing high passes, climbing a few mountains and doing substantial science along the way. Dawa, who lives a few miles from us in Wales, assured us that his older brother Tenji would make light work of getting 50 plus members safely around this high mountain endeavour.
And Tenji did just that. He flew out to the UK to participate in the pre-trip planning and, as ever, I was embarrassed about the hurdles that British Immigration rules made him jump through in order to simply clinch the deal.
When, in 2003, Tenji greeted us in Kathmandu with garlands of marigolds he introduced us to the crack team of Sherpas and guides most of whom were his family or extended family.
I don't think we ever met Furba in 2003 but I know, as a teenager, he was there in the office alongside Tenji making the logistics happen. Those logistics went like clockwork and tons of research and mountaineering gear met our various teams at our Chamlang Base Camp after an arduous trek through the Hongu and Hinku Valleys. All of our members got home safely (along with their scientific samples). Peaks were climbed and even those that had never been on a climbing rope before were coaxed out via either the Mingbo La or the awesome Amphu Lapcha. Such was the skill of our Sherpa guides and the planning that sat behind them.
From that day on Medex has been Sherpa Brothers strongest supporter and our relationship has flourished with successful joint expeditions in 2003, 2008, 2015 and now again in 2018.
As Furba was not on that 2003 Expedition and as Tenji quit Kathmandu to drive taxis in New York I cannot hand the Medex long service award to them even though they deserve it for their enterprise and their ambition.
Instead the award goes to Nima Sherpa whose shining eyes and sure feet have been there every step of the way. He was there when Heather missed her footing and fell 50m on day two of Manaslu. He was there when Chhongba apprehended the vagabond that stole my satellite phone somewhere on the dark side of Dhaulagiri. He was there helping the porters and members down a double length abseil from 5,809m in 2003. A week ago, when we flew back into Kathmandu for this trip, he was there grinning away with the same shining eyes and distinctive, authoritative voice.
Well done Nima for being with us all these years and thank you Sherpa Brothers for sharing your family with Medex and for making us feel so at home in Nepal.