At the end of July, Ang D Sherpa, a member of the Himalayan Sherpa Club, flew back to his home in Sonoma after successfully summiting K2, the world's second-highest and most dangerous mountain.
K2, at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet), is known among climbers as the "Savage Mountain" due to its extreme difficulty and high fatality rate. Only about 300 people have ever reached its summit, compared to thousands who have climbed Everest.
Ang D Sherpa's successful ascent represents an extraordinary achievement, even for someone from a community legendary for their high-altitude climbing abilities. The climb required weeks of acclimatization, careful planning, and navigating some of the most treacherous terrain on Earth.
Upon returning to Sonoma, Ang D was welcomed as a hero by his family and the local Sherpa community. His achievement has inspired young Sherpas and demonstrated that the mountaineering spirit remains strong in the diaspora.