Loved By All: The Story of Apa Sherpa

“I wouldn’t wish this for anyone,” says Apa Sherpa, who summited Everest 21 times, having started as a porter at the age of 12 following the death of his father. Eric Crosland’s Loved By All leaves no doubt that for many Sherpa, the hard, dangerous work of hauling gear and guiding westerners on Everest is undertaken not for glory, but to provide for their families. Apa Sherpa is now devoted to providing educational opportunities to children of the Khumbu Valley, hoping to spare them his fate. “The true beauty of Nepal is not the mountains, but the people who live in their shadow,” he says, calling into question the Everest industry, fueled by Sherpa labor.