Everest Guide Hillary Dawa Survives Six Days Alone on Mountain

Hillary Dawa Sherpa crawled toward a cleaning crew at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall last Thursday. He’d been alone for six days. His family had already begun funeral rites.

The 57-year-old climbing guide had separated from his clients during a severe snowstorm on 29 May while descending from Camp 4. When rescuers finally spotted him in his bright blue summit suit, he could still sit upright and speak. He was airlifted to Kathmandu’s HAMS Hospital, where he’s now recovering well in a general ward.

How Did Hillary Dawa Survive Without Oxygen at 7,200m?

At extreme altitude, survival odds drop fast. A fully acclimatised climber typically lasts two to three days without supplemental oxygen near Camp 3. Hillary Dawa beat those odds.

He ran out of oxygen. He couldn’t walk. For two days, he ate nothing.

“I didn’t think I would be alive,” he told BBC Nepali from his hospital bed. Then he found chocolates in his pocket and began chewing ice despite the pain in his teeth. An avalanche buried him in a crevasse but also provided an escape route when snow filled the gap beneath him, allowing him to climb out and find ropes that led him further down the mountain.

Questions Mount Over Tour Company’s Response

Himalayan Traverse Adventure hired Hillary Dawa as a camp cook. He ended up guiding two clients to the summit. The company says their original guide “fell sick at Base Camp,” and Hillary Dawa accepted the assignment for extra money.

Polish climber Mariusz Chmielewski disputes this version. He claims HTA informed them on 30 May that Hillary Dawa was missing, yet no search began until 2 June. You might wonder why the delay stretched so long.

“Look, Hillary Dawa was left alone; he rescued himself,” Chmielewski told the BBC. “I think they should lose their licence.”

HTA manager Angfurba Sherpa attributes the delay to weather. Severe conditions made helicopter rescue impossible, he says. Partner company 8K Expeditions confirms HTA made contact on 30 May but then became unreachable for days.

Budget Packages and Sherpa Safety Under Scrutiny

British climber Chris Thrall and Chmielewski each paid approximately $37,500 for their expedition. That’s below market rates. Some companies charge six figures for similar trips.

“They paid one of the cheapest prices and yet they expect VIP service,” Angfurba said. Chmielewski called this comment “absurd and outrageous,” noting they paid several thousand dollars extra expecting a qualified climbing guide.

Everest experts point out that camp cooks rarely have training for summit guiding. Ben Ayers, a longtime Everest reporter for Outside Magazine, notes that local guides typically receive specific preparation for leading clients up 8,000m peaks. Hillary Dawa had previous experience but was “late in his career.”

What Happens Next for the Industry

Nepal’s tourism department is investigating. Hillary Dawa’s family has filed a police report accusing HTA of negligence.

His longtime friend Pasang Dawa Sherpa posed the central question: “Why wasn’t a search initiated right after he got trapped?”

The answer could reshape how budget expedition companies operate on Everest’s slopes. For now, Hillary Dawa rests in Kathmandu, alive against all expectations, with frostbite on his extremities and chocolates to thank for his survival.