Nepali Teen Sets Mountain Climbing Record

Nepal —(Map)

Nima Rinji Sherpa has become the youngest climber to reach the top of the world’s 14 highest mountains. The 18-year-old from Nepal completed his goal on October 9 by climbing the 8,027-meter (26,335-foot) Mount Shishapangma in Tibet.

The 14 mountains Nima climbed are known as the “8,000ers”. That’s because each of them is at least 8,000 meters (5 miles) tall. Climbing all 14 is such a difficult and dangerous challenge that only a few dozen people have managed to complete it. It’s so hard that many people have died trying.

Nima is a Sherpa. Sherpas are a group of people from Nepal who are famous for their climbing skills. They often work as guides, helping climbers from other countries.

Sherpas help make climbing possible. They guide climbers, carry heavy loads, and set up safety equipment. Foreign climbers often get most of the attention for completing the climbs while Sherpas do much of the hard work in the same dangerous conditions. Nima is hoping to bring some of that attention back to the Sherpas.

Nima comes from a family of climbers. His father is a famous climber, and his uncles were the first brothers to both climb all of the 8,000ers. That has given Nima a strong support group.

But even so, Nima didn’t start climbing seriously until he was 16 years old. He climbed his first 8,000er, Mount Manaslu, in August of 2022. Nima climbed Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, earlier this year.

Nima didn’t start climbing seriously until he was 16 years old. He climbed his first 8,000er, Mount Manaslu, in August of 2022. Nima climbed Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, earlier this year. Above, Nima at the Mount Annapurna base camp in March.

Nima chose to leave Mount Shishapangma as his last 8,000er. He had planned to climb it last year. But an avalanche at the time killed four people, including his friend and teacher, Tenjen Lama Sherpa. Nima stopped his climb, and instead focused on rescuing other climbers.

Nima says climbing is a tough sport. “It’s about who can suffer the most when times are the worst,” he said.

This year, Nima returned to Mount Shishapangma, determined to complete his challenge. He says he was thinking of his friend as he reached the top of the mountain on October 9.

Nima returned to Mount Shishapangma and completed his challenge on October 9. He is now the youngest person to climb all 14 of the 8,000ers. Above, Nima waves to supporters at the Kathmandu airport after he broke the record.

Nima says he hopes his successes will make people more aware of how important Sherpas are to climbing. But he aims to be more than a guide. He says he wants to show that Sherpas are as good as climbers from any other country. “My dream is very simple,” Nima says. “It’s just to be one of the best athletes in mountaineering.”

At just 18 years old, he’s well on his way. Nima is now the youngest person to climb all 14 of the 8,000ers. Mingma Gyabu Sherpa was the previous holder of that record. He was 30 years old when he completed the task in 2019.

Nima’s success has already been confirmed by Nepal’s government. It will take a while longer for Guinness World Records to make it official.