Pema and Rob

Pema's friendship with Rob Hall began as they were both leading expeditions to Mt. Everest in the fall of 1988. Pema was leading a group of Koreans who were exercising national pride for the Seoul Olympics, and Rob Hall, whose group was just two days off of Pema's schedule, was leading a group from Czechoslovakia. The two groups set up close to each other at Base Camp, and Rob convinced Pema to take a season off from Mountain Travel to work for his own company, Wilderness Travel. In late spring of 1990, Pema joined the team as Base Camp leader for the international expedition to Mt. Everest.

At Base Camp the group brewed their own batch of beer in a barrel, but with no sealed bottles there was no fizz. Although they thought it tasted like "donkey piss tea" they enjoyed the buzz after a few glasses. The expedition was a success, though some of the clients were more interested in paragliding back down to Base Camp from Camp #3. The Swedish members spoke with the King of Sweden by radio and Peter Hillary talked to his father, Edmund Hillary, by radio from the summit. Rob wrote up a glowing commendation later for Pema, which he framed and now displays proudly in the dining room of his Khumjung lodge.

Rob Invited Pema to his home in New Zealand, and he gave a fantastic tour of the fascinating landscape. Rob's real motive was to convince Pema to jump ship from Mountain Travel to work directly with him in his company. He wanted Pema to take on an expedition in 1993, but regretfully Pema had already committed to an American group for that season. Rob was determined, so he asked what they were paying him, ready to offer double. Pema could only turn it down because he said his promise was more important. Rob was very disappointed, but not as much ultimately as Pema when the American group canceled. Mountain Travel also left Pema hanging because they had already booked all the work for that year and they had nothing left. Pema was left with no group and he regretted passing up his friend's offer.

Rob Hall went on to lead a daring expedition company "Adventure Consultants" with his friend Gary Ball, guiding wealthy clients to reach the world's highest summits. In 1996 Rob lead a group to the summit of Mt. Everest again, but he met tragedy as a storm stranded them at the top. One of the clients collapsed and died at the summit. As leader Rob wouldn't leave him alone, so he perished himself. Pema deeply regrets losing such a good friend and he still misses him.