Currently, he is taking rest under a makeshift tent at the Nepal Orthopedic Hospital, Jorpati with his right arm fractured and four ribs severely broken. However, he is eagar again to set his foot on the snowy mountains immediately after the doctors discharge him."I am Sherpa's son and the mountains are like my parents. I might have failed to conquer the summit this time around but this has not shaken my determination. I will be back on the trails sooon again once I get well," said Pasang. "No one can predict natural disasters and we have always lived with this fear. It is part of our job," he added.
After ten days of travelling, Pasang and his expedition team, which included his uncle Ang Phurpa Sherpa had reached the Everest base camp on April 23. They took rest on Thursday and there was not much to do Friday as it had kept snowing throughout the day.
After having breakfast with their foreign clients, Phurpa,48, had left to meet his colleagues tented a few miles away. Phurpa, who was suffering from cold, felt it best to stay inside the tent with the rest of his fellow guides.
According to Pasang, he felt the tremor slowly intensify and everything started to fall apart.
"I was trying to tie my shoes as others were engrossed in playing cards. Our senses were alert immediately after the mountain started to shake. Only a minute later, a large mass of ice and snow washed us and everything turned dark and silent," said Pasang.
A huge mass of avalanche released off the Pumari mountain had washed away everything that was laid along its way. Had Pasang failed to grab a part of the tent, the avalanche would have washed him away, too.
"When the thick pile of snow rolled us down, I was wrapped inside the tent. With my hands stuck in snow, I clung on to it by biting the tent's edge with my teeth. I kept screaming for help. Only after 10-15 minutes, a group of people dug me out. Had I lost my hope of survival, I would have died in vain," said Pasang.
He was brought to safety by Phurpa and his friends. Only two days after the incident, Phurpa along with others injured in the incident were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment.
Even for Phurpa, who has already climbed Everest five times, the avalanche shook his heart. However, he is undettered and wishes to return to the mountains when the next expedition season begins.
"Mountains have claimed lives and many of our fellow guides have died in the past. But this has never weakened my heart and I will hit the trails again without second thought," said Phurpa.
Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, mountaineer and director of Seven Summit Treks shared a similar thought. Among the hundreds of victims, Tashi was also at the Base Camp when the earthquake triggered the avalanche.
"Not only the Sherpas but the entire tourism industry has been affected. Instead of grieving over the loss, we should unite and revive our industry again," said Tashi.
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