Babu Chhiri Sherpa – The Man Who Stayed 21 Hours On Everest’s Summit Without Supplemental Oxygen
Before GoPro, before Instagram, before the hashtag #Everest, there was Babu Chhiri Sherpa – one of the most legendary men of the Himalayas.
May 6, 1999: The Record No One Has Broken
On May 6, 1999, Babu Chhiri Sherpa – a Nepalese Sherpa guide – did something almost unimaginable.
After reaching the summit of Everest (8,848.86 m), he pitched a tent and stayed on top of the world for 21 hours without using supplemental oxygen. He slept, cooked, took photos, and watched both the sunrise and sunset from the “roof of the world”.
This record remains unbroken to this day. Even the strongest mountaineers in the world only dare to stay in the “Death Zone” (above 8,000 m) for the shortest possible time. Babu Chhiri defied every conventional safety rule – and lived to tell the story.
The Life Of A Sherpa Legend
Babu Chhiri was born in 1965 in the village of Khumjung, Everest region, Nepal. He was of the Sherpa ethnicity – the indigenous people who have become icons of endurance and climbing skill.
He first climbed Everest in 1985 and went on to conquer the peak 10 times. He was known for his speed, incredible stamina, and humble attitude. In addition to the 21-hour summit record, Babu Chhiri also held the record for the fastest climb of Everest at that time (16 hours 56 minutes in 1999).
He was not just a guide but also a father, a husband, and a source of pride for the Sherpa community. He often said he climbed not only for money but for his love of the Himalayas and the desire to help visitors climb safely.
Tragic Death In 2001
Just two years after his historic record, on April 29, 2001, Babu Chhiri climbed Everest for the 11th time.
While at an altitude of about 8,500 m (near Camp IV), he suddenly fell into a deep crevasse. Despite an emergency search by rescue teams, his body was not found until several days later. The official cause was a fall while traversing dangerous terrain.
Babu Chhiri’s death shocked the global mountaineering community. He passed away at age 36, leaving behind a wife and three young children.
A Timeless Legacy
Though he has been gone for more than 24 years, Babu Chhiri remains a symbol of the quiet strength of the Sherpa people. He was not just a guide – he was someone who shaped modern climbing history.
The 21-hour summit record on Everest has never been broken.
His name has been given to roads, hotels, and foundations supporting Sherpa children.
He reminds the world that Sherpas are not merely “porters” – they are true athletes, people who understand the fragility of life on the “roof of the world”.
The story of Babu Chhiri Sherpa is a powerful testament that before modern technology, there were ordinary yet extraordinary people – quietly making history with their own endurance and courage.
Main sources:
Babu Chhiri Archives and family (personal photos and documents).
Himalayan Database – Everest climbing records.
Nepalese and international press from 1999–2001 (BBC, National Geographic, Kathmandu Post).
“The Sherpas of Everest” – anthropological studies on the Sherpa community.
Interviews with Babu Chhiri’s wife and children after 2001.