Sherpa, Sirdar, porters and yaks

To follow through a trekk in the Himalayas, you may need some help. First of all, there are porters. They carry most of your luggage. It is amazing to see their determination as they move steadily upwards with 40, 50, 60 kg on their back and head. We may think that it is a lack of respect to have someone else do most of the carrying. However, it is a source of income and a part of the culture in the mountains.



For heavier loads, there are yaks and djoppios (yak and cow mixed - they are more comfortable on lower altitude than yaks) who act as moving roadblocks as they sway along the trail - sometimes in long caravans. To avoid being pushed off the trail by a swaying yak you need to meet them on the mountainside of the trail, watching out for those long and sharp antlers.



Sherpa is a name for both a group of people in Nepal and the task of walking in front and finding the best trail for the group. Our sherpa Kamal used to be a porter. Now he has advanced into the role of a very serviceminded and appreciated sherpa.



Sirdar - or sardar - is the chief of sherpas and porters. He takes care of the logistics and walks at the end of the group to make sure that everyone is on track. Our sirdar Pemba was fantastic. His smile could melt all the glaciers of Himalaya. What a guy!