A few words about Tika Tamang. Our leader in Nepal and my best mate.
Tika Tamang is a highly respected leader and veteran Himalayan guide. He is the Co-founder of Trek Climb Ski Nepal.
We met in 2003 and he is now like a brother to me. If it wasn’t for Tika, it’s unlikely I’d be alive today. 14 years ago – on our first expedition together – we were caught in a storm on Cho Oyu (the world’d 6th highest mountain). Our climbing partner and good friend died during this storm and it was Tika’s herculean efforts that enabled me to finally return safely to Base Camp.
Fast forward and Tika and I have now been operating Trek Climb Ski Nepal for 14 years. It is always a highlight to welcome Tika to Australia where he works with me planning and preparing all our trips.
Tika is incredibly humble. He is also the hardest working, most determined and loyal person I know. He is married with 2 children and he lives with his family on the outskirts of Kathmandu in a beautiful home he has worked tirelessly to pay for.
Tika is a pillar in his community and in addition to supporting his family also supports his brothers, sisters and parents. He also helps to support the children of his brothers and many of his cousins. Tika does this because he loves and embraces everyone in his extended family and feels that he is incredibly fortunate to be able to help.
When the earthquakes struck Nepal in 2015, many of our Nepalese Trek Climb Ski Nepal community were deeply affected. Many lost their homes and this included Tika’s parents, his wife’s parents and one of his brothers. In his typical no fuss and no nonsense fashion, Tika started doing what he had to do. With the support of his friends in Australia, funds were raised and emergency relief was distributed to our small community where it was needed most. Health, education, emergency supplies and re-building projects. Tika has devoted the last 2 years of his life rebuilding the homes of his parents, his wife’s parents and his brother. It’s just what he does.
Nobody has taught me more about life, leadership and resilience than Tika Tamang. He is a great friend and an incredible human being. Everyone who meets Tika comes away a better person. I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to call him my best mate.
Written by Trek Climb Ski Nepal Co-founder, Nick Farr