Celebrating Everest Day - May 29, 2025
Greetings from New York!
Today, I’m celebrating Everest Day with friends of the American Himalayan Foundation, reflecting on the historic moment when my father, Tenzing Norgay, and Sir Edmund Hillary first reached the summit of Chomolungma (our name for Mount Everest). Their achievement continues to inspire and capture the world’s imagination.
But for me, Everest Day has always been about more than just a historic climb. It’s a reminder of the sacrifices that Sherpas and mountaineering workers have made, and the responsibility we carry forward as stewards of the mountains.
As we mark the 72nd anniversary of that first ascent, my thoughts are with the Sherpa people and the growing challenges we still face—particularly in the wake of the glacial lake outburst flood of August 2024, which caused severe damage to Thame village in the Everest region. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but it shattered the community and many lost their homes.
In response, I’m proud to announce the launch of a new disaster preparedness and risk mitigation initiative, developed in partnership with the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC). What makes this project especially meaningful is that it’s locally led, driven by the very people who know the land, the risks, and the needs best. By combining their lived experience with science and training, we can create early warning systems and community response plans that will help protect lives in the future.
If Everest has taught us anything, it’s that great challenges can be overcome together. Today, the greatest challenge isn’t climbing the mountain, it’s protecting those who call it home.
This Everest Day, I invite you to be part of the next chapter in this story—one that honors the past by safeguarding the future. Please join us to safeguard lives.
Thank you,
Norbu Tenzing
President
Photo Credits: Gill Roberts, Himalayan Trust