Nima Rinji Sherpa becomes youngest to climb 14 eight-thousanders

Nima Rinji Sherpa, a teenage mountaineer from Nepal, has made history by becoming the youngest person to climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks, known as the “eight-thousanders.” These mountains are located in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges in Asia.

Nima reached the top of Shishapangma on Wednesday, completing his challenge, which many climbers have attempted but not survived. The eight-thousanders are mountains that rise over 8,000 meters.

At just 18 years old, Nima achieved this incredible feat in 740 days. He was accompanied on his climbs by his partner, Pasang Nurbu Sherpa.

Nima is also the youngest climber to reach the summits of Gasherbrum I and II, as well as Nanga Parbat, all located in the Himalayas. His dedication to climbing is evident as he successfully scaled both Mount Everest and its nearby peak, Lhotse, in just 10 hours.

After reaching the peak of Shishapangma, Nima said, “This summit is not just the end of my journey but a tribute to every Sherpa who has dreamed beyond what people expect from us.” The term “Sherpa” refers to mountain guides and porters around Everest, but it also describes an ethnic group that lives in the mountains of Nepal.

He added, “Mountaineering is more than just hard work; it shows our strength, resilience, and passion.” Nima hopes to inspire younger Sherpas to rise above the stereotype that they are only guides. “Let this be a call to every Sherpa to see the dignity in our work, the strength in our heritage, and the endless possibilities for our future,” he said.

Before Nima, the record was held by Mingma Gyabu “David” Sherpa, who completed the climbs at the age of 30 in 2019. Rakesh Gurung, the director of Nepal’s Adventure Tourism and Mountaineering Branch, commented that this new record will be “difficult” to break.