The Juniper Fund

06/12/2026

Hillary Dawa's survival is a miracle. And it's a reminder of why this work matters.

This season, three other mountain workers didn't make it home.

Lakpa Dende Sherpa. Bijaya Ghimire Bishwakarma. Phura Gyaljen Sherpa

Their families need support as well, and for the long term. That's exactly what The Juniper Fund is here for.

This summer, we're asking you to climb for them.

, , and an incredible group of climbers have joined our 5 Mile Vertical Challenge - 29,032 vertical feet, from anywhere, through any activity. Hike it. Run it. Bike it. Take the stairs.

The challenge runs through the end of July. Join the leaderboard, set your goal, and fundraise as you go.

https://giving.gofundme.com/campaign/798377/landing

06/04/2026

UPDATE: After five days missing on Everest, Hillary Dawa Sherpa made it back to Base Camp alive - under his own power. We are overwhelmed with relief and gratitude.

Hillary Dawa is a testament to the skill, resilience, and sheer will of the men and women who call the Himalaya their workplace.

To everyone who donated and shared his story this week - thank you. We are in contact with Hillary Dawa's family and will help coordinate support to ensure his stability in the days and months ahead.

Your generosity will also reach the three families who did not receive this news today. Lakpa Dende Sherpa, Bijaya Ghimire Bishwakarma, and Phura Gyaljen Sherpa lost their lives on the same mountain this season. Their families face a long road ahead - and because of this community, they will not walk it alone.

The Juniper Fund will be there for all of them - because of you.
🔗 thejuniperfund.org/donate

06/02/2026

The 2026 Everest season closed with records and triumphs - and with profound loss that our community knows too well.

Hillary Dawa Sherpa has been missing around the Yellow Band on Everest since May 29. He was there doing his job - one of the most demanding and respected professions - guiding his client on the highest mountain in the world. The mountain is empty now. Dawa is still missing.

This season also took Lakpa Dende Sherpa, Bijaya Ghimire Bishwakarma, and Phura Gyaljen Sherpa, three high-altitude workers who were proud of their work in the Himalaya.

They are deeply missed. We are holding their families in our hearts. This is exactly why The Juniper Fund exists, and we will walk alongside them in the year ahead.

06/02/2026

UPDATE: June 3, 2026 - Hillary Dawa was found alive!
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The 2026 Everest season closed with records and triumphs - and with profound loss that our community knows too well.

Hillary Dawa Sherpa was last seen around the Yellow Band on Everest on May 29. He was there doing his job - one of the most demanding and respected professions - guiding his client on the highest mountain in the world. The mountain is empty now. Dawa is still missing.

This season also took Lakpa Dende Sherpa, Bijaya Ghimire Bishwakarma, and Phura Gyaljen Sherpa, three high-altitude workers who were proud of their work in the Himalaya.

They are deeply missed. We are holding their families in our hearts. This is exactly why The Juniper Fund exists.

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

Today is the day. 🏔️

The Juniper Fund Climb Everest Anywhere Fundraising Challenge is officially LIVE.

29,032 feet. Any elevation. Anywhere in the world. By July 28.
is already climbing. Conrad Anker is already climbing. Now it's your turn.

Hike, run, walk, bike, take the stairs - every foot of elevation raises funds for the Himalayan workers and families who make every summit possible.

https://giving.gofundme.com/campaign/798377/landing👆

GoFundMe

05/27/2026

Big things are in the works over here… 🏔✨
Come back on May 29 - Everest Day - and see what we've been up to.

05/24/2026

SHE DID IT. At 51 years old, .sherpa.357 just stood on the summit of Lhotse!

A huge thank you to for believing in her and making this possible. We are so proud to cheer her on every step of the way. 💪❤️

No dream is too high. No mountain too tall. 🙌

05/21/2026

As summit pushes unfold on Everest right now, we hold the climbers on the mountain in our thoughts. Climb safe, and come home.

Our hearts are with the high-altitude workers who have already lost their lives this season.

Behind every expedition are men and women who take on extraordinary risk - and whose families are left to carry the weight of that loss. At The Juniper Fund, we stand with those families, providing financial support, education, and resources to help them build a stable future in the wake of tragedy.

If this season has moved you, we invite you to join us. Your donation ensures that the families of fallen workers are not forgotten.

Give today at www.thejuniperfund.org or on our profile page.

05/12/2026

We often hear names. We rarely stop to learn the story behind them.

Bijay Ghimire Bishwakarma was so much more than a name.

Thank you to Ben Ayers and Everest.Live for taking the time to research Bijay's story - for digging deeper, going beyond the headline, and reminding the world that behind every name is a life worth knowing.

At The Juniper Fund, we hold these stories close to our hearts.

Today, Ben gets emotional about the second fatality of the Everest season, and how Bijaya Ghimire was a pioneer for equality across Nepal. The higher camps a...