“You cannot stay on the summit forever”…

Who but Lahkpa Sherpa knows it best.

Speeding past Ashford – located on the north side of the Nisqually River and the main access road to Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park – you just might miss out on the low profile ‘Wild Berry Restaurant’. Wishing for a “Taste of Two Worlds”? This is where you ought to stop by. It serves both traditional American Mountain Menu as well as authentic Sherpa-Himalayan food from Nepal.

What’s really special about this place is the owner – an iconic mountaineer who has made it his abode. Mount Rainier, a glacieated and active volcano in Washington state, may be just half way the Everest, but the region has been a nurturing ground for mountaineers aspiring to scale them all.

What better proof than this testimony inside the forest at Ashford?

A view from ‘Paradise’ (base camp): Mount Rainier, 14408 feet in altitude, is the highest peak in the Cascade Range. It is the heart of Mount Rainier National Park.

Splash of colours just ahead of the weather conditions become challenging.

The legend

Five sisters of Orting, as the Puyallup legend goes – were transformed into five mountains by Doquebuth, the changer. One of them was called Takkobad – that is Mount Rainier. Doquebuth said to Takkobad, “You will take care of the Sound country. You will supply water. You will be useful in that way.”

Mount Rainier is one of the snowiest places in the United States. Thanks to 645 inches of annual snow that it receives, Takkobad generally fulfills Doquebuth’s wish.

Wild Berry opens from May to mid-October and does not operate on Tuesdays!

The legendary Sherpa

Born in Nepal, Lhakpa Gelu is best known for holding a world record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest in 10 hours 56 minutes and 46 seconds. Gelu’s record breaking trip was his tenth to the Everest summit. He has scaled it fifteen times (both North Ridge and South East Ridge).

Like an invisible character, he moves between the kitchen and the tables keeping a watchful eye in a supporting role. He demands no attention and perhaps much of the time most customers are not even aware of his presence amidst them. Just as he ascends the summits without fanfare, and descends. Sees it no longer but has seen it all. Before soon gets to see them yet again.

Other than the Everest, he has also been atop Mt. Denali, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Cho Oyu, Mt. Baruntse, Mt. Aconcagua and Mt. Rainier. For sure, the most accomplished Sherpa mountaineer.

Yes, you cannot stay on the summit forever. But you could re-visit and pursue new ones, Lhakpa Gelu way, too. From the road to picturesque Paradise.