With other projects starting, an airstrip was badly needed.
This would make it easier to get materials into the
mountains. But with no roads and no heavy machinery,
how could they build an airstrip? One hundred Sherpas
cut down bush, dug out roots, and levelled the land. The
only things they couldn’t shift were some huge boulders,
but the Sherpas had a great idea. They dug enormous
holes beside each boulder. Using poles as levers, they
tipped the boulders into the holes and covered them with
earth. The ground then had to be compacted, but there
was no heavy roller. Linking arms, the Sherpas did a
vigorous dance up and down the airstrip. After two days
of stamping, the airstrip was ready.