At just 18 years old, Nepal’s Nima Rinji Sherpa has achieved a milestone that very few have achieved, becoming the youngest climber to reach all 14 of the world’s highest mountains, Known as “Eight-Thousand”. Mr Rinji’s journey ended on October 9 with the climb to the summit of Nepal’s 8,027-metre peak Shishapangma, accompanied by his mountaineering partner Pasang Narbu Sherpa.
Reflecting on his latest achievement, Mr Rinji described reaching the summit as “pure joy”. His passion, he said, is inspired by his family, a lineage of accomplished mountaineers, including his father, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, and uncle, Mingma Sherpa, who are well-known in Nepal’s mountaineering community.
“My uncle and my father … came from a very small village. It was really hard for them to even dream of being so successful,” he told CNN. “I have a privilege they didn’t have.”
Mr. Rinzi’s next goal is equally daring: a winter ascent of Manaslu without supplemental oxygen or fixed ropes, in collaboration with the Italian mountaineer Simone Moro. “It means we are climbing an 8,000-meter-high mountain in the winter… with no support for us. So, it’s like pure human endurance,” he said. “This has never been done in the history of mountaineering.”
This recent achievement did not attract major sponsors; He relied on his father’s 14 Peaks campaign for funding. Despite the lack of support, he is hopeful of inspiring young Sherpa climbers. “Hopefully I’ll be the face of a big brand,” he said, adding that he hoped the perception of Sherpa climbers as mere “support staff” would be redefined.
Over the past two years, Mr Rinji has climbed Everest, K2 and the Five Peaks in less than five weeks. Annapurna remains his personal favorite among his climbs. He recalled the challenges he faced, saying, “For a 17-year-old teenager to do something without using oxygen, you know, it’s generally not recommended.”
Reaching the eight-thousandths requires navigating a dangerous “death zone”, where oxygen levels are critically low and temperatures extreme. Nima Rinji noted the harsh reality of life at such heights: “Your body starts to shut down… maybe I like the pain,” he joked.
Mr Rinji envisions a sustainable future for Nepal’s mountaineering industry and hopes his achievements will inspire a new generation of Nepalese mountaineers. “Hopefully, the younger generation… we will try to organize this industry and make it more sustainable for future generations,” he said.
