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Lhakpa
Tell me about yourself
My name is Lhakpa Sherpa, I was born and raised in Solukhumbu, Nepal, but I moved to the U.S. in 2017 to study Global Development and Accounting at SPU and I'll be graduating next year! I love the outdoors, but my dad died summiting the mountain in 2010 so my mom doesn't allow me to climb mountains in Nepal anymore.
Have you ever attended an ORP event or rented gear from us?
Yes, the first time was my freshman year. I went on the snowshoe trip in Snoqualmie. Also I was the director of ORP last year!
When you hear the word, "outdoorsy" what do you picture?
Mountains at first because I was raised in the mountains. I also think of camping and people in the woods, or just people with a fat backpack walking all around the place.
What's your first or favorite memory of being in the outdoors?
It would be my time in Alaska. I had no place to live in the States so I did this trekking program in Alaska. It was thirty days in the wilderness with two old dudes and some yaks
What's your favorite thing to do outside?
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Climbing or going camping with friends, just chilling out with good people, and I also have a peaking interest for surfing.
What culture, ethnicity, or community do you identify with?
Sherpa or Nepali culture. We are a small community or village. Everyone is a homie, but yes, everyone in your village is your family.
How does your culture interact with the outdoors?
We have a big connection to the outdoors. Sherpa people are known to climb Mount Everest. Our ancestors used to help people climb Mount Everest even though it goes against culture, but there was no opportunity and helping people climb was a way to make money. People were just attracted to mountaineering. There isn't education opportunity where I come from, so you have to learn from the land. Living off the land, everything is carried on donkeys or your back. What you grow is what you eat. We have hella potatoes!
Do you feel represented in the outdoor community?
Yes, mainly because I used to run ORP. Also because of my last name, Sherpa. "Have you ever climbed Mount Everest?" is a common question I get. Obviously that's not a bad thing to hear, but I don't like it when people think that Sherpa people only climb mountains. One thing that I hope a lot of the time is just the fact that not all Sherpas are someone that climb mountains. They (Americans) just stereotype Sherpa. You have to think about the culture and the different people. Sherpa are a clan; it’s not an occupation. Sherpa are a group of people. I guess that goes against the whole ‘outdoorsy’ thing, but it’s not just always about the mountain, it’s about the culture, name, the language. You should follow Apa Sherpa on instagram (@apasherpafoundation) to learn more. If I wasn't in ORP I don't think I would feel represented.
What can ORP do to help you feel more represented in the outdoor community?
Put more brown people in ORP leadership positions and have more diversity in leadership.
Do you think you're an "outdoorsy" person?
Yes because I love being outside. It doesn't have to be a specific activity like climbing or hiking. If there's any new activity outside, I just love being outside in general.