An 18-year-old teenager from Nepal successfully reached the summit of Mount Shishapangma in Tibet on Wednesday, becoming the youngest climber to conquer the world’s 14 highest peaks.
According to various media reports, at 6:05 am local time on Wednesday, Nima Rinji Sherpa, aged 18, stood on the top of the main peak of Mount Shishapangma, completing the feat of summiting all 14 “eight-thousanders” in the world.
The “eight-thousanders” refer to the 14 mountains recognized by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) with heights exceeding 8,000 meters, all located in the Himalayas and Karakoram mountain ranges in Central and South Asia. Mount Shishapangma ranks 14th among these peaks and is the only independent eight-thousander situated entirely within China’s borders.
Conquering these 14 peaks is considered the ultimate dream for mountaineers, requiring them to traverse the so-called “Death Zone,” the high-altitude area above 8,000 meters characterized by extreme cold and severe oxygen deprivation.
The previous record for the youngest climber to summit all 14 peaks was held by another Sherpa climber named Mingma Gyabu ‘David,’ who achieved this milestone at the age of 30 in 2019.
Shortly after setting this new world record, Nima’s father, Tashi Sherpa, mentioned in an interview with the BBC that his son called via satellite phone on the morning of the successful ascent, conveying the accomplishment calmly without displaying excessive excitement. Tashi expressed confidence in Nima, mentioning his son’s professional training as a key factor in the achievement.
Despite his young age, Nima Rinji is no stranger to high-altitude climbing, coming from a renowned mountaineering family that has set multiple world records. The family currently operates Nepal’s largest mountaineering expedition company, Seven Summits Treks. Nima began challenging the eight-thousanders at the age of 16 and spent 740 days achieving this milestone.
In a statement posted on his social media account, Nima Rinji remarked, “This summit is not just the peak of my personal journey but also the best tribute to every Sherpa who dares to break traditional boundaries and chase dreams.”
“Climbing is not just about physical endurance but also a testament to the strength, resilience, and passion of the Sherpa people. We Sherpas are not just mountain guides; we are also trailblazers.”
Nima Nuru Sherpa, the chairman of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, told Agence France-Presse, “This is a proud moment for all Nepalese. Nima Rinji has shattered the stereotype that Sherpas are only assistants to foreign climbers. His success conveys a powerful message: with determination, nothing is impossible.”
Most Nepalese guides hail from Sherpa villages near Mount Everest, known as Sagarmatha in Nepali and Chomolungma in Tibetan, and are considered a vital pillar of Nepal’s mountaineering industry.