Source: Gerd Eichmann/CC 4.0
He’s the last living member of the first team to summit Mount Everest. Now, 66 years later, Kanchha Sherpa says life at the base of the world’s tallest mountain has changed considerably. Namche Bazaar, the nucleus of the region, has evolved from a small village to a mecca for international trekkers and tourists, with coffee and souvenir shops, internet cafes, and lines—sometimes long lines. Now 86, Kanchha runs a lodge with his wife and offers speaking programs for tourists. He also helped start a foundation to preserve Sherpa culture.