Background of the Friendship Beyond Borders Expedition

                                                                ---from Expedition Leader, Tom McMillan

Nawang's Role in the American Annapurna South Face Expedition ~ 1998
In 1998 I led an attempt on the South Face of Annapurna with the outstanding help of Wongchu Sherpa and the staff of his trekking agency, Peak Promotion. This company has served many Everest expeditions, including those for David Breashears' Everest (IMAX), Everest: The Death Zone (NOVA), Everest - The Mystery of Mallory and Irvine, and the 1995 Everest North Col trip during which my friend Colin Lynch, owner of Bay West Property Management in San Francisco, made the summit.

During our Annapurna expedition, about fifteen friends trekked into base camp at various times. Wongchu assigned a young guide, Nawang Sherpa, to accompany these trekkers to and from our base camp. I was particularly struck by Nawang's high degree of professionalism, cheerfulness, physical strength, attention to detail, and deep concern for his staff and clients. We all developed great respect and fondness for him.

Tragedy strikes, and friends band together to help ~ 2000—2001
Tragically, less than two years after our expedition ended Nawang was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in Kathmandu, and his left leg was amputated below the knee. In May of 2001, Steve Sheridan of Vail, Colorado and the Annapurna trekkers pooled their resources to bring Nawang to the US to get advanced medical attention and a high quality prosthetic leg. During that month, he stayed in our home in San Rafael and joined us for trips to Yosemite and other areas. His prosthetist, Walter Racette mentioned that he had never seen anyone adapt to this kind of prosthesis so quickly and so naturally. During Nawang's stay in the US, he gained the courage to set a bold goal for himself—return to Nepal, begin working again as a high altitude mountain guide, and some day climb Mt. Everest. Several of the Annapurna expedition members and trekkers have generously contributed their time and money to help make this possible. Wongchu also has supported Nawang in his efforts to rebuild his career. Nawang is again leading trekkers in the Annapurna and the Everest regions. In addition, for the past two years Nawang has had the opportunity to climb to some of the high camps on Mt. Everest with various mountaineering expeditions.

Hope and help from a mountaineering legend, the chance for a dream gained, then lost ~ 2002
For a long time it has been the dream of the Annapurna expedition team and trekkers to find a way to help Nawang get his own chance to climb Mt. Everest, but it seemed like a financial impossibility. However, when we heard via Jim Wickwire of bi-lateral amputee Ed Hommer's 2001 attempt to climb Everest, we worked to make sure that Nawang could meet him while Ed passed through Kathmandu on his return to the US. They met and became fast friends. Last year Ed arranged for Nawang to fly to Duluth, Minnesota to receive a truly state-of-the-art prosthetic leg so he could join Ed's next planned attempt on Everest. These plans came to a tragic end when Ed died on Mt. Rainier in September of 2002.

A visionary executive provides the genesis, and friends come together again to shape a new chance. The dream is "reloaded" ~ 2003—2004
In May of 2003, in the midst of celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of Hillary and Norgay's first ascent of Everest, a leading San Francisco corporate executive made an incredibly generous and completely unsolicited offer: financial support for an attempt on Mt. Everest. Having lived in the Swiss Alps during his high school years, this gentleman understands and appreciates the beauty and spirit of adventure found in the high mountains. When he made this offer, I immediately thought of Nawang and how great it would feel to stand on the top of Mt. Everest with him. From that genesis, our expedition will help Nawang, and by example, other courageous amputees around the world who are committed to rebuilding their lives and careers.

 

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