Tashi Tenzing was born in Darjeeling, India, on November 30, 1965 – the youngest son of Pem Pem, Tenzing Norgay’s eldest daughter. It was Tenzing Norgay who, with Sir Edmund Hillary, became world renowned for making the First Ascent of Mount Everest (29,035 feet) on May 29, 1953. Tashi Tenzing spent his childhood in Darjeeling, the famed British hill station and tea growing area. In his youth, he attended St. Paul’s School, a private boarding school in the strict British tradition. He was highly successful in the outdoor field, excelling at distance and sprint running, soccer, cricket, gymnastics, karate, hockey and horse-riding, as well as in the more artistic pursuits of oil painting and batik. After graduating, Tashi went to the University of New Delhi to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, but his first love has always been the outdoors, especially climbing.   In University, Tashi was solely responsible for establishing the Delhi University Climbing Club and graduated from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling as an instructor. This Institute was established by his grandfather,Tenzing Norgay, after his successful climb of Everest in 1953, in order to offer professional climbing instruction to all Indian people. It has established a great tradition and a successful history of expeditions to the mighty Himalayan peaks.   Since leaving University, Tashi has been almost solely employed in leading trekking and climbing trips in the Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, Kashmir, and Indian Himalaya, as well as some stints as a field training officer and mountain guide in Antarctica. He has trekked widely in Nepal (especially the Everest area of course!), in Kashmir and Ladakh and in the eastern Himalaya of Bhutan and Sikkim.

In 1993 Tashi Tenzing led the 40th Anniversary Everest Expedition to mark the 40th anniversary of the first successful expedition by his grandfather, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. His team was successful, getting two members to the summit on May 10th. Some four years later, on May 23rd 1997, Tashi reached the summit of Everest himself. With this dream fulfilled, Tashi’s road was clear to embark on new adventures.   In 1998/99 Tenzing first worked for the Australian Antarctic Division, at Mawson Station in East Antarctica. The past three years has seen Tashi again in the Antarctic, guiding alpine ascents on climbing trips for Aurora Expeditions, including two successful crossing of South Georgia. He also worked on a filming a project in 2002/3, spending a month in Scott Base and two months in the Antarctica Peninsula.

In August 2001 Tenzing and his former wife Judy published their first book – Tenzing and the Sherpas of Everest - which pays tribute to the immense contribution the Sherpas, including his grandfather Tenzing, have made to Himalayan exploration and mountaineering. The book is published worldwide.   On May 16th, 2002 Tenzing made his second ascent of Everest with the Swiss Rolex 50th Anniversary team - to commemorate the gallant attempts made in both spring and autumn 1952 by Tenzing Norgay and his dear friend, Raymond Lambert. Tashi reached the summit with Apa Sherpa who has climbed Everest 12 times and Yves Lambert, son of the Swiss climbing legend. The dream of a father and grandfather are now fulfilled.   Tenzing and the Sherpas of Everest. Tenzing will inspire you through this multi-media presentation of his life on and off the mountain. He will guide you through the culture and history of the Sherpa people and then challenge you as he assaults the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest. The award winning book has received international praise and the movie has won 2 award in Europe for Best Mountain film. It was also recently honored at the Banff Film and Book Festival. Tenzing was recently honored at the 50th Anniversary in Katmandu, Nepal.

Tashi will be leading an expedition to the South Pole with Noel Shackleton and Denis Costello.   Noel is the grandson of the late Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famous explorer. To find out more CLICK HERE    To book Tashi Tenzing as a guest speaker, to enquire about his guided tours or  Sponsorship enquiries for upcoming expeditions, please contact Debbie Carr on  0414 729 646 mailto:debbie@coyote.com.au