Tashi Tenzing

Tashi Wangchuk Tenzing is an Indian-born Australian Sherpa mountaineer. His maternal grandfather, Tenzing Norgay, made the first ascent of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953.

Early life

Tashi was born to Pem Pem, who was the daughter of Tenzing Norgay. He spent part of his childhood in Darjeeling, India where he attended St Paul's School excelling at distance and sprint running, soccer, cricket, gymnastics, karate, hockey and horse-riding as well as oil painting and batik.

Tashi then went on to the University of Delhi to gain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. He established the Delhi University Climbing Club and studied at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling. His grandfather, Tenzing Norgay, established this Institute after his ascent of Everest to offer professional climbing instruction. Tashi graduated from the Institute as an instructor and still sometimes delivers courses there as a guest instructor.

Career Since leaving University Tashi has led trekking and climbing trips in Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, Kashmir and the Indian Himalaya.

In 1993 Tashi led the 40th Anniversary Everest Expedition to mark the 40th anniversary of the first successful expedition of his grandfather, Tenzing Norgay. While his team was successful in getting two members to the summit on 10 May, Tashi's uncle and climbing partner, Lobsang Tshering, fell to his death on the descent from the summit. Tashi himself missed the summit as well by just 400 metres, having to turn back with snow blindness.

On 23 May 1997 Tashi reached the summit of Everest.

Personal life Tashi was married to Australian Judy Pyne Tenzing, and they have a son and daughter. He later returned to Nepal and married a Sherpa woman called Bandi Nima Sherpa and now lives in Kathmandu and runs a trekking company "Tenzing Asian Holidays".

In May 2013 Tashi Tenzing said he believed his grandfather Tenzing Norgay should have been knighted, not just given "a bloody medal". His cousin is actor Tenzing Norgay Trainor, best known as Parker in Liv and Maddie.

Summits He is usually credited as Tashi Wangchuk Tenzing of Australia, sometimes with a note that he is Tenzing's grandson Everest 23 May 1997 16 May 2002

Cho Oyu 9 May 2006