The first time Ang Tharkay was chosen for an expedition was in 1931 by a German party for Kangchenjunga. He was then included in the team for British attempt on Everest in 1933 where he became honoured as one of the Tigers - one who carried to over . Eric Shipton, who had also been in the 1933 party, selected him (effectively as sirdar) for the 1934 Nanda Devi exploration as well as for Shipton's return visit to Nanda Devi in 1936 - he had not been available when Bill Tilman was recruiting sherpas for the 1936 ascent of Nanda Devi. There were two occasions on the 1934 expedition when Shipton credits him with finding a route when everyone else had thought they would have to turn back.