The story behind a Yak for Christmas

In 1962, Ed and Louise Hillary took their children on an extended Himalayan holiday to Khunde where Ed was working on building the first Hospital in the region.

With their young kids far away from home, they convinced Max Pearl to borrow a Yak from a local farmer and ride it into the village dressed as Father Christmas.

“They’re Coming,” one of the children shouted and everybody looked up towards the hospital where we could see the bobbing red figure of Father Christmas astride a gigantic black and hairy beast.

At first, Lois didn't dare look, but the yak proved quite unruffled and walked down the stony track completely oblivious to the screaming throngs of youngsters and the peculiar load on its back.

No one in Khumjung or Khunde had ever seen anybody dressed as strangely as Max in his scarlet garb. He arrived at the Chorten and was instantly surrounded by 200 enthralled children.

The basket of presents had arrived intact on the back of the yak and when the excitement had calmed down a little, Max started putting gifts in all the outstretched hands.

This was the signal for bedlam to be let loose and we were worried for the safety of Father Christmas for surely not even the most docile of yaks would find this type of treatment to his liking. But the yak either had no nerves in its body or had had a particularly good breakfast in the morning, for it never moved or blinked an eyelid.

Max threw sweets and gifts all over the place and the children ducked and dived after them in great excitement.”