Kirken Lama Sherpa is from near Junbesi in the Everest region of Nepal. He has been guiding for over three decades and is an inspiration for all of Peak Paldor's staff. He is Gelu Sherpa's uncle.

Kirken speaks four languages fluently: Japanese, English, Nepali, & Sherpa. For the last 15 years, he has guided Japanese groups almost exclusively.

Kirken first went to trekking guides' school in 1977. In 1980, he obtained his Climbing Guides license and was a climbing Sherpa on two expeditions to Everest in 1981 and 1988. He has summited two other 8000m peaks, Manaslu and Shisha Pangma (in Tibet). Kirken has led over twenty expeditions to the 6000m trekking peaks and over ten mountaineering expeditions to 7000m peaks. He has led expeditions with up to 200 staff members!

Kirken Lama's favorite trek is the 'Annapurna Round' because "you get to see many different districts (4): Lamjung, Manang, Mustang, and Myagdi -- on other treks you see just one district."