Nima Rinji Sherpa is the youngest person to climb all 14 of the Earth's highest peaks (Credit: 14peaks expedition/ CC-BY-SA-2.0)

At just 18 years old, Nima Rinji Sherpa has achieved a feat that few can even imagine. He has become the youngest person, and one of only about 50, to climb all 14 of the world's "eight-thousanders." These peaks, located within Asia's Himalayan and Karakoram ranges, stand over 26,247 feet (8,000 m) tall. This is above the so-called "death zone," where the lack of oxygen makes it impossible to sustain human life for long.

Nima's quest began in August 2022 when he climbed Manaslu, the world's eighth-tallest peak. The teenager then conquered even higher peaks, including Everest, the world's tallest mountain. In June 2024, he summited his 13th peak, Kanchenjunga, which stands 28,169 feet (8,586 m) above sea level. Nima's epic adventure ended at 6:05 am local time on October 9, 2024, when he reached the top of the Shishapangma mountain in Tibet.

The 14 "eight-thousanders" are split between the Himalayan (right) and the Karakoram mountain ranges (left) (Credit: SY/ CC-BY-SA 4.0/ Wikimedia Commons)

The teenager's historic achievement is the latest in his family's impressive legacy of mountaineering records. Nima's father, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, was just 19 when he became the youngest to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. His uncle, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, previously held the record as the youngest person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders. He was 30 when he completed the challenge in 2019. Mingma and his brother, Chaag Dawa Sherpa, were also the first siblings to climb all 14 of these towering peaks.

Nepal's ethnic Sherpas have long been guides and porters for climbers attempting to summit peaks like Mount Everest. Their invaluable contributions include navigating dangerous routes, carrying heavy loads, and ensuring the safety of climbers in challenging conditions. Despite taking much of the risk, Sherpas receive little recognition. Nima hopes his achievement will raise awareness that Sherpas are more than just guides. They are elite athletes who deserve respect for their own talents and accomplishments.

Nima hopes his feat will highlight the importance of Nepal's Sherpas (Credit: 14 peaks expedition/ CC-BY-SA-2.0)

"Mountaineering is more than labor; it is a testament to our strength, resilience, and passion," Nima said. "Through #SherpaPower, I want to show 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."

Resources: CNN.com, Washingtonpost.com, AlJazeera.com