Sardar (Sherpa)

As Sirdar of local porters leader is in mountaineering or trekking denotes that mediates between the mountaineers and the carriers as well as locals. This name is common, especially for Sherpas in the Himalayas, also for the Hunzukuc in the Karakoram.

The Sirdar is responsible for the carrier, kitchen helpers and cooks an expedition and regulates traffic transport, payment as well as the cooperation with local authorities. He speaks fluent English and is usually typically the most experienced of the group. But the Sirdar is not a mountain guide in true sense. The tasks of the Sirdars the monitoring of progress on the approach to the base camp as well as in larger expeditions include monitoring of the load transfer in the high camps. The Sirdar itself does not contribute normally only its own equipment.