Nepal's Nima Rinji Sherpa becomes youngest to conquer world's 14 highest peaks
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At just 18 years old, Nepal's Nima Rinji Sherpa has made history by becoming the youngest person to successfully scale all 14 of the world’s tallest mountains, each standing over 8,000 meters.
His final summit, Mt Shishapangma in China, marked the completion of this extraordinary achievement.
Nima and his climbing partner, Pasang Nurbu Sherpa, reached the peak of Shishapangma, which stands at 8,027 meters above sea level, at 6:00 AM (China Standard Time) on Wednesday.
Nima shared the news on Instagram, dedicating the record to his project, #SherpaPower. "This summit represents not only the conclusion of my journey but is also a tribute to the Sherpa community," Nima wrote.
He hopes his accomplishment inspires young Sherpas to break free from traditional roles, which often typecast them as mere support climbers. "We are not just guides; we are trailblazers," he added, emphasizing that Sherpas have the strength, resilience, and ability to be at the forefront of mountaineering.
Nima, who hails from a family of mountaineers, began his journey to scale the world's tallest peaks at the age of 16, when he summited Mt Manaslu (8,163 meters) in September 2022. What started as a passion for photographing mountains quickly evolved into a mission to elevate the Sherpa community's visibility and tell their story.
"We are the ones who carry the equipment, ensure safety, and lead the rescue efforts, but we rarely get the recognition," Nima said in an interview earlier this year. Inspired by this realization, he dedicated his climbs to showcasing the dignity of Sherpa work and their crucial role in mountaineering.
Nima's remarkable achievements include scaling Mt Everest (8,848 meters) and Mt Lhotse (8,516 meters) within 10 hours in May 2023, when he was just 17. He also became the youngest climber to conquer Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters) in June 2023.
In July 2023, Nima climbed several major peaks, including Mt Gasherbrum I (8,068 meters), Mt Gasherbrum II (8,035 meters), Mt Broad Peak (8,047 meters), and Mt K2 (8,611 meters). He followed these summits with Mt Cho-Oyu (8,188 meters) in October 2023 and Mt Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) in September.
Despite taking a break after a deadly avalanche on Mt Shishapangma that claimed the lives of four climbers, including a close friend, Nima returned to mountaineering in 2024. He summited Mt Annapurna I (8,091 meters) in April and Mt Makalu (8,485 meters) in May.
Nima's journey is not only a testament to his personal skill and determination but also a powerful statement about the strength and resilience of the Sherpa community.
