Sherpa Adventure Gear, founded by the nephew of a Sherpa who helped guide the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest to help raise funds and recognition for Nepal's mountain guides, has joined Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (Grassroots) as a vendor partner.



Sherpa Adventure Gear was inspired by sheer chance in 2003 when its CEO, Tashi Sherpa, owned an import clothing business. In May of that year, while walking down the streets of Manhattan, a magazine issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest caught his eye. The craggy lines of the familiar face staring at him from the cover belonged to none other than his uncle, Ang Gyalzen Sherpa. Tashi was amazed to discover that he was one of the original Sherpa on Sir Edmund Hillary’s celebrated expedition in 1953. Today, every climber in his/her heart is grateful for having a Sherpa companion on the treacherous slopes of the Himalayas. For it is the Sherpa who makes the route, carries the load and lays the rope all the way to top and back.

They risk their lives for a pittance and smile through the life threatening ordeals on the flanks of Everest and surrounding peaks. But rarely do they receive any of the fame or recognition that follows a successful summit.
As Tashi read the sad story of the many unsung Sherpa heroes like his uncle who live in total anonymity – and often utter poverty – in the shadow of Everest, he felt a powerful urge to share the Sherpa story with a wider audience. So he created Sherpa Adventure Gear and began making outdoor clothing and gear. He then started sponsoring the best high altitude climbers in the world to test their products –the Sherpas themselves.

One of Tashi’ s main goals in creating this company was to support and honor these people who do so much for so little. So each Sherpa Brand ambassador is paid a royalty based on sales. In addition, up to $.50 from every product sold goes to a special fund for the underprivileged Sherpa children of Nepal.

Today their Sherpa heroes have become well known, and there are Sherpa Children in Nepal that smile every year thanks to their support. As time goes on, more Sherpa athletes are being invited into the fold to test and endorse our growing line of products.


“Sherpa Adventure Gear feels deeply honored by our inclusion as a vendor partner in Grassroots Outdoor Alliance,” said Tashi Sherpa.  “In an increasingly volatile world, where daily changes to the economic and environmental status quo challenge us all, the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance has to be commended for successfully creating a vibrant organization of diverse specialty retail members and brands who represent the most endearing and enduring values of the outdoor community. This partnership with Grassroots allows us a great opportunity to see our vision come true.”

 

The retail members of Grassroots are proud to join forces with Tashi and Sherpa Adventure Gear to help support Sherpas and Sherpa children on Nepal.

 

 

“We are very pleased and excited that Sherpa Adventure Gear is now a Grassroots Vendor Partner,” said Mike Leffler, co-owner of Appalachian Outfitters. “Our two companies and families have grown together as both businesses and friends. Sherpa Adventure Gear embodies the very best attributes of the outdoor industry and those of Grassroots and will be a great addition for all of our members”.

 

Sherpa Adventure Gear will be exhibiting at the Fall Grassroots Summit in Knoxville, TN Nov. 18th to 21st, 2013.

 

 

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance negotiates terms with vendors and provides many other services to its 46 members, who operate nearly 100 outdoor specialty retail stores across the United States.