NIMA SHERPA The New King of Climbing

The youngest mountaineer to scale fourteen of the highest peaks is chasing something bigger than money or fame. He wants to show the world that the Sherpas are exceptionally skilled athletes, not mere helpers for western climbers

- Ravi Rai

Fourteen mountain peaks stand over 8000m, and Nima Rinji Sherpa, 18, became the youngest mountaineer to summit all eight thousand-ers, when he ascended Tibet's Mount Shishapangma, at 6.05 on a chilly Wednesday morning (13 October). There was something very poignant about Nima's expedition culminating in a successful ascent of Mount Shisapangma. It's the same mountain where an avalanche claimed the life of his mentor, friend and celebrated mountaineer Tenjen Lama Sherpa, last fall. Nima was about to begin his ascent when the tragedy struck. He quickly got involved in rescue efforts, helping the stranded climbers return safely to the base camp. Breaking records was no longer a priority, says Neema.

Tenjen, hailed as the strongest and most skillful mountaineer, had set a new record of climbing all '8000ers' in just 92 days. His death had shaken the entire mountaineering community, including Lima, who even started contemplating retirement from his fledgling climbing career. "I never thought this could happen to someone like Tenjen," quips Nima on a Zoom call. On mountains, there's a thin line between tragedy and triumph. Countless dead bodies wrapped in a white snow cover come on the way to the top, always reminding the climbers about the fickleness of life at these high altitudes. "We all believe we are not going to die but you never know what fate has in store for you. I just realised that Tenjen wouldn't want me to feel low about myself. He would have hated me for quitting climbing, since he always wanted me to win in life. That's how I convinced myself to keep going," he says.