User:Surajeverest

ICEFALL DOCTORS

The ICEFALL DOCTORS is a team of Sherpa who fix ropes and ladders in the dangerous section of Khumbu ICEFALL on Mt. Everest. Without their work, climbing Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse mountains is not Possible.

Cascading between Everest Base Camp and CAMP 1, the Khumbu Icefall is a slowing moving river of ice and the most dangerous and fragile section of large ice blocks, snow alleys with deep crevasses climbers must pass through during Everest Climbing. Every year in spring, a team of Sherpas work meticulously to fix ropes and ladders on this section and these folks are known as ICEFALL DOCTORS.

Historically this is a job done by native Sherpas of the KHUMBU valley. Their uncanny ability to understand the condition of the ice is of surgical precision and seeing them perform the work, legendary climber Rob Hall gave them the name "Icefall Doctors".

These icefall doctors are normal village folks and family men. Most of them are engaged in something. It is their primetime job come spring every year. From mid March to end of May, they are the engineers, architect and first responders of the dangerous Khumbu ICEFALL.

These ICEFALL DOCTORS are exposed to high risks, unending ever changing and unfavorable conditions triggered by high rate of melting and unusually lesser snowfall during winter months in the Himalayas. Anything can happen in a snap. On April 18, 2014, a section of hanging Seracs on Mt. Lhola came crashing down to the Khumbu Icefall and 16 sherpas, majority of them ICEFALL DOCTORS got killed by the sharp Debris of ice and and snow in an area known as football field. In April 2023, three Sherpas from an expedition company came under a falling block of ice and remain buried.

Knowing that the next trip could be the last trip, these brave heart plunge themselves in this game of icy Russian roulette. Everytime they leave the camp, they offer prayers for the safe return and back home at the native village, the family cross fingers day in and out.

Its not a life changing seasonal pay but the inner calling is too strong and these men get ready in the Month of March for a two and half month journey to the labyrinth of lurking dangers. Jangbu Sherpa, one of the young icefall doctors in his words, "Its job you do not just do either will and skills, you need some.balls and guts"