A Nepalese teenager breaks world record for the youngest mountaineer
summits earth’s 14 highest peaks
Only a select few people have ever conquered all of the world's “eight-thousanders”—the 14 towering peaks that rise more than 8,000 meters above sea level, recognized by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA). Nima Rinji Sherpa, an 18-year old just broke the world record of being the youngest in the world to have climbed all 14 of the world’s highest peaks. He began scaling the first high-altitude mountain at just 16 years old and completed all eight-thousanders in an incredible 740 days!
All 14 eight-thousanders (14 towering peaks of the world) are located in Asia, in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges.
On Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, at 6:05 a.m. local time, Nima Rinji Sherpa reached the summit of Mount Shishapangma in Tibet. Having just turned 18, he shattered the world record as the youngest climber to conquer all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters. The previous record was held by another Nepali climber, Mingma Gyabu ‘David’ Sherpa, who achieved the feat at age 30 in 2019.
Every week on the Lighter Side, I bring one news story that fascinates me (and hopefully fascinate you, my reader). When I read about this boy who thought of climbing mountains as he stared out of his school window (thoroughly bored), I could not have related better with him (I am referring to the part about being bored in a school classroom). Hope you enjoy Nima Rinji’s story!
How his climbing streak began
The 10th grade exams in Nepal had just ended, and Nima Rinji Sherpa was restless, eager for an adventure. As he gazed out of his classroom window, the towering Himalayas stretched in every direction, sparking an idea. He decided to climb one of the eight-thousanders. Living in Nepal—home to many of the world’s highest peaks—made this dream seem within reach. Of course, not every 10th grader can simply decide to climb an 8,000-meter peak! Nima’s dedication to fitness played a big role. He avoided sugar, ran regularly, and trained with weights whenever possible. Plus, living at altitude meant his body was already adapted to the lower oxygen levels of the mountains. On September 30, 2022, he set off to scale Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest mountain, with his friend and climbing partner, Pasang Nurbu Sherpa.
Buoyed by his success on Manaslu, Nima Rinji Sherpa returned home with renewed confidence and set his sights even higher—on the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest (8,848.86 m). After months of intense training, he began his ascent on May 24, 2023. But Nima had an even bigger goal in mind. As soon as he returned to base camp after summiting Everest, he immediately set off to climb Mount Lhotse (8,516 m). Incredibly, he conquered both 8,000-meter peaks on the same day—May 24, 2023. Whoa!
After a month of rest and training, Nima Rinji Sherpa was ready for more challenges. In June 2023, he packed his bags and headed out again, summiting Mount Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) on June 26, 2023. After a three-week break, he was back at it—this time with an even bolder goal: to climb four 8,000-meter peaks in just 10 days. He summited Mount Gasherbrum I (8,068 m) on July 18, 2023, Mount Gasherbrum II (8,035 m) on July 19, and Mount Broad Peak (8,047 m) on July 23.
The climb of Gasherbrum I was grueling, but what followed was even more intense. Nima and his friend, Pasang Nurbu, pushed themselves for 25 hours straight to summit Gasherbrum II. They both described it as their most mentally challenging climb, battling exhaustion and the effects of lower oxygen levels that made thinking clearly even harder. Despite it all, Nima and Pasang did it!
Three mountains down, one big challenge left for July 2023—K2, known as the toughest mountain in the world to climb, even harder than Everest due to its steepness. On July 27, 2023, Nima Rinji Sherpa successfully summited K2, the world’s second-highest peak at 8,611 meters.
After a couple of months' rest, he was back in action. In the fall of 2023, Rinji conquered two more giants: Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) on September 29, and Mount Cho-Oyu (8,188 m) on October 6, 2023.
After conquering both the world’s highest peak, Everest, and the toughest, K2, Nima Rinji Sherpa set his sights on another ambitious goal. On April 12, 2024, he climbed Mount Annapurna (8,091 m) without supplemental oxygen. Soon after, he continued his remarkable journey, reaching the top of Mount Makalu (8,485 m) on May 4, Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) on June 8, and finally, Mount Shishapangma (8,027 m) on October 9, 2024.
As Nima Rinji Sherpa stood atop Mount Shishapangma, he gazed into the horizon, fully aware that he had just broken one of the world’s toughest records. Yet, he wasn’t excited—it felt like just another climb. Nima had trained rigorously for this moment, approaching each ascent with careful planning and professionalism, alongside his trusted partner, Pasang Norbu.
He picked up his satellite phone and called his father Tashi Lakpa Sherpa.
‘Dad, I reached the summit at 6:05 Chinese time. My colleague Pasang Norbu and I have arrived.’
His father simply said ‘I had faith in you. Now come back safely.’
Every corner of the world was abuzz with this news
On a social media platform called Reddit, a user named islander_guy posted: “Nima Rinji Sherpa, an 18-year-old Nepalese climber, just broke the world record to become the youngest mountaineer to summit Earth’s 14 highest peaks.” Another user quickly replied, “Isn’t this super expensive? Mount Everest alone costs $80,000+ with permits, gear, etc. But 14 peaks? How much did all that cost?” A third user chimed in, saying, “This guy didn’t need 20 other sherpas to carry his gear, guide him, cook for him, or help him along the way. He did EVERYTHING by himself or with the help of his friend. He didn’t need the kind of money that many Westerners need to climb. He just needed his fit body and mind, and a good friend to tag along.”
Another user added, “Shoutout to all the Sherpas who deserve to be treated with dignity and reverence.”
Who are the Sherpas? Why have they mostly been relegated to a footnote?
The word "Sherpa" means "man from the East" and refers to a clan or caste name. The Sherpas originate from Tibet and inhabit the high hills of the Himalayas, both in Nepal and India. Sherpas—both men and women—often find work in outdoor jobs. Today, you can see Sherpa women porters on the streets, carrying large, cone-shaped baskets on their backs. Sherpa men are highly sought after by mountaineers and climbers to carry heavy loads and serve as cooks and guides during mountain expeditions. Some Sherpas sustain themselves by raising yaks, which thrive in their snowy pastures and thin air, as well as by growing potatoes. They know it’s time to start planting when a frozen waterfall begins to thaw
When mountaineering became a favourite pass-time in British ruled India, most Sherpas were not interested in climbing them for their own sake. For Sherpas, mountains are sacred places, considered the abodes of the gods. Some peaks, like Ama Dablam, are so revered that every expedition stops a few meters short of the summit to avoid defiling the site. Others, like Mount Kailash, are deemed so sacred that no one climbs them at all. For example, each Everest expedition begins with a ceremony to honor the mountain's deities.
Additionally, Sherpas have better things to do than climb mountains for fun; they do it because it pays well—something that was not the case before Western expeditions arrived (mainly the British who started climbing Himalayas over a 100 years ago). With money to spend, these climbers viewed Sherpas as reliable companions—hardy, loyal to the end, and wise when it comes to challenges like frostbite.
BUT, BUT, BUT in hardly any summit of a mountain, is the name of the Sherpa guide(s) ever mentioned. Every news article and interview sings the praise of the climber (often a Westerner) with not a nod to the loyal and hardy team of Sherpas who made the success of the climb possible.
Sherpas emerge from shadows of Western climbers
Back to our story of Nima Rinji Sherpa - standing atop Mount Shishapangma, another life ambition was front of mind for the 18-year-old: to subvert the stereotype of Sherpas as mere helpers who assist foreign climbers on their ascents.
Nima Rinji said he was inspired to climb all 14 peaks to prove to the younger generation of Sherpas that they can rise above the stereotype of being only support climbers and embrace their potential as top-tier athletes, adventurers, and creators.
We are not just guides; we are trailblazers. Let this be a call to every Sherpa to see the dignity in our work, the power in our heritage, and the limitless possibilities in our future. This summit is not just the culmination of my personal journey, but a tribute to every Sherpa who has ever dared to dream beyond the traditional boundaries set for us. Mountaineering is more than labour, it is a testament to our strength, resilience and passion.
We won’t just be porters and cooks. We will rise above and be known as world-class athletes and adventurers.
Coming soon - the Lighter Side in printed form
If you’ve been enjoying Lighter Side so far, I have exciting news—our end-of-year printed book, Lighter Side: Most Exciting Stories of 2024, is almost here!
For those of you who love the feel of a book in your hands, this is going to be a blast. I’m curating the most captivating tales that curious kids will adore! This 2024 edition covers global events in geopolitics, as well as the latest in science, tech, and sports. I break down complex topics in a simple, witty style that’s fun to read. Plus, there will be illustrations contributed by both kids and adults, and most stories will include a game or two! Get ready to grab your copy very soon!
Trivia about Nima Rinji’s record
The record-breaking ascent on Oct 9, 2024 added to Nima Rinji Sherpa’s growing list of accolades.
He is also the youngest climber to have summited the Himalayan peaks Gasherbrum I,
the youngest to summit Gasherbrum II,
the youngest to conquer Kashmir’s Nanga Parbat, and
the youngest to scale both Mount Everest and neighboring Lhotse within just 10 hours.
Trivia about Mount.Everest
The peak has a local name - Mi-ti Gu-ti Cha-pu Long-nga, which can be translated roughly as “You cannot see the summit from near it, but you can see the summit from nine directions, and a bird that flies as high as the summit goes blind.”
Podcast this week
Once, there was an old man with three sons. He was very rich, and it was time for him to decide who would take care of his money. So, he called his sons and gave each of them one silver coin. He told them to buy something with that coin that could fill an entire room and be valuable. The first son filled the room with cotton, the second son filled it with hay for animals, but the third son bought a candle and lit it so the light filled the room. He also bought a book, because he thought books were very valuable. No surprise—he was the one who got the old man’s money!
Just like the three boys who each got a silver coin, every country on Earth is born with amazing resources. How they use these resources shapes their future. In this week’s podcast, I play a game with a fifth grader. I give hints about what happens in different countries, and you get to guess which country you’d want to live in based on your prediction of what is about to happen to that country. You can change your choice anytime during the game, as new information comes along. At the end of the podcast, you’ll see if you picked the richest country (and can try to guess the real names of the countries in the game)!
Also, if you love books on space - you’ll like George’s secret key to the universe
Written by Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking, it’s a tale of a boy’s journey into space and black holes. You can find out what this book is all about and whether it is a good fit for you, on our most recent podcast episode.