Everest Pioneer Nawang Gombu Dies at 79

4/25/11 - Nawang Gombu Sherpa, who accompanied Jim Whittaker to the summit during the first American ascent of Mt. Everest, in 1963, died at home in India on April 24.

Gombu was born in Tibet and was the nephew of Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two men to climb Everest; he was the youngest climbing Sherpa on that 1953 expedition, reaching the South Col. In 1965, Gombu became the first man ever to climb Everest twice, summiting with an Indian expedition.

Date: April 24, 2011

Sources: Ang Tshering Sherpa, everestnews.com