Lhakpa Sherpa Summits Everest for Record 11th Time at 52

Lhakpa Sherpa stood atop the world's highest peak for the 11th time Sunday, a feat no other woman has ever achieved. At 52, the Nepali mountaineer reached Everest's 29,032-foot summit while working as a guide, proving that experience and determination can defy both gravity and age.

Her journey to this record began in 2000 when she became the first Nepali woman to summit Everest and survive. That historic climb happened as part of the Nepali Women Millennium Expedition, opening doors for generations of women climbers.

Since then, Sherpa has returned to the summit in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and now 2026. Each ascent added to her legacy as one of high-altitude mountaineering's most accomplished athletes.

Her climbing resume extends beyond Everest. In 2023, she successfully summited K2, the world's second-highest peak, after a failed attempt in 2010 showed her the value of patience and persistence.

Not every expedition ended at the summit. In 2015, she turned back following Nepal's devastating earthquakes and deadly avalanches, choosing safety over records when it mattered most.

Why This Inspires

Sherpa's story captured hearts worldwide through the 2023 Netflix documentary "Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa." The film earned director Lucy Walker the grand prize at the 2024 Kendal Mountain Festival, introducing millions to the woman behind the nickname.

Recognition has followed her achievements. BBC named her to its 100 Women list in 2016, and she received India's prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2023.

But perhaps the most inspiring part is that she's still climbing, still guiding, and still showing that our greatest summits might still be ahead of us.

At 52, Lhakpa Sherpa isn't just breaking records—she's rewriting what's possible.