Tragedy struck today. About 7:00 A.M. three Sherpas were killed in the icefall. One of them was one of our Sherpas. Pinjo Sherpa was 50 years old and one of the most experienced Sherpas on our team. This was his 28th Everest expedition and 49th to an 8,000 meter peak. He left behind a wife and a 12 and 14 year old. Hidden in the statistics was a wonderful man with a ready smile. He was found of saying quoting Fred Flintstone “jabba dabba doo”. Where he had come up with that I never thought to ask. He was our camp tailor in addition to being a high altitude expert. Yesterday he repaired a camp chair and on his way out of the mess tent left us with a “jabba dabba doo” and a gentle laugh. I am familiar with the spot he was killed. Unfortunately, I think the Sherpas sometimes become complacent about the risk. It has been many years since there was an accident in the icefall but all the ingredients were here for this one. Add the heavy snows to a short cut under an overhanging serac that many were fond of taking and it is easy to see in hindsight what could happen. On a personal level it doesn’t change my feelings about this mountain or the icefall. I will continue to go the longer way and avoid the obvious dangers. What does concern me on a deeper level is the fact that these people are risking their lives because people like me want to climb this mountain. Up until Westerners began coming here trying to conqueror these peaks Nepali’s didn’t venture near them. In fact they consider Everest sacred and the Llama only consents for them to climb it because of the economic benefits that accrue to Nepal. There is a memorial in Pheriche for the people who have died on Everest and the Sherpas have suffered a disproportionate share of the deaths. Perhaps I was somewhat obtuse but I never considered this. If it were not for us and the money we bring, these people would not be taking these chances. I know if I quit and went home now it wouldn’t mean one thing in the larger scheme. But even if I am fortunate enough to summit, my feelings about it have changed. That will give me pause for thought over the next several days.