About the Book: Until 1949, all expeditions to the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges began in Darjeeling, a town that attracted mountaineers globally. Here, they discovered the Sherpas—hardy people originally from Nepal—who proved to be ideal companions and load-bearers. As the number of expeditions grew, so did the Sherpa population in Darjeeling, creating an essential community of expedition workers. The town became home to legends like Tenzing Norgay, the first Sherpa to summit Everest, and Nawang Gombu, the first to climb it twice. This book tells the extraordinary story of Darjeeling’s climbing Sherpas and their lasting legacy.