Everest Sherpas - in pictures

A trekker stands in front of Mount Everest, 8,850 metres high, at Kala Patthar in Solukhumbu District. Hundreds of climbers have been forced to to call off their bids to climb Everest bcause of the sherpas' boycott Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Porter Lakpa Sherpa, 42, walks along the tracks while on his way to Everest base camp. Sherpas fix the climbing ropes, transport the equipment, carry oxygen and food for climbers and rescue those in danger Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Trekkers walk in front of Mount Thamserku on their return from Everest base camp at Pheriche, approximately 4,300 metres above sea level. Without the assistance of Sherpas, the trek is nearly impossible for all but the most experienced of climbers Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Nima Doma Sherpa whose husband Lakpa died in the avalanche in April, holds her daughter as she poses for a photograph with her in-laws in their house in Khumjung Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

A porter carries mattresses back from Everest base camp Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Temba Sherpa, 45, who has reached the summit of Everest seven times, climbs to clean the mani prayer stone in Khumjung Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

A small plane is reflected as it takes off from Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla, which has a reputation as the world's most dangerous airport Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

A woman sits in the window of her shop selling food and drinks on the way to Namche in Solukhumbu District Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Kedar Rai and his sons carry goods to their shop in Solukhumbu District Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

A statue of Sir Edmund Hillary, the founder of Khumjung High School, in the school grounds. More than 4,000 climbers have reached the summit of Everest, the world's highest peak, since it was first scaled by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953 Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Khunjung Sherpa, 90, who earned $0.09 a day when he worked as a porter, sits outside his house in Namche Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

A yak walks past a clothing store in Namche, approximately 3400 metres above sea level Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

A Nepalese army soldier sits in a check post as he waits to check permits for trekkers Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters

Porter Lakpa Sherpa stands in front of Mount Kongde, approximately 3400 metres above sea level Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters