Sungdare Sherpa

Sungdare Sherpa (1956 Thame village, Solukhumbu – 1989 Pangboche

Climbing career Sungdare was with Hannelore Schmatz when she died on a 1979 expedition. He remained with her after she died, and as a result, lost most of his fingers and toes to frostbite.

Despite losing his digits, Sungdare summited Mount Everest four more times after the 1979 expedition.

Death Sungdare drowned in a river below his village, Pangboche, Nepal in 1989.

Elizabeth Hawley stated that he struggled with alcoholism and that his death was a suicide. He was survived by his widow, Bhingfuti.

Ascents of Everest 1979 1982 1988