By Ashika Gurung, KATHMANDU, (HV):- Two historic records were set in Nepal’s mountaineering history on Sunday. Kamirita Sherpa, known as the ‘Everest Man’, and Lakpa Sherpa, known as the ‘Mountain Queen’, have successfully scaled Mount Everest, once again setting a new record for themselves as world-renowned climbers through their indomitable courage, experience, and dedication.

Department Director Himal Gautam said, “Mount Everest is not only an adventure but also a risky and sensitive journey. The two historic achievements achieved today have helped make Nepal’s mountain tourism unique, respected and proud worldwide. The climber’s bravery has not only inspired the international community to engage in safe and adventurous activities, but has also given further strength to convey the message that Nepali women are no less than anyone in terms of courage and challenging work, even in terms of gender.”

Stating that the success of both the famous climbers has added a proud chapter to the history of mountaineering in Nepal, he said that although the number of female climbers is less than that of men, mountain tourism has reached new heights with the enthusiastic participation, activism and confidence of women who are increasingly taking up climbing.

According to the Department of Tourism, Kamirita reached the summit of the highest peak at 10:12 am on Sunday and Lakpa at 9:30 am. Born on January 17, 1970 in Thame, Solukhumbu, Kamirita first climbed Mount Everest in 1994.

He has been reaching the peak every year since then, and reached the highest peak for the 31st time on 13 Jestha 2082 BS during the same season of last year. Before that, he had successfully climbed it twice, namely the 29th and 30th times, in 2081 BS.

Similarly, the record of Lakpa, who was born in Sankhuwasabha Makalu-2 in 1973, has added a new brick to the mountaineering history of Nepal. She had earlier climbed Mount Everest for the 10th time in 2022 and broke her own record this year.

Women’s courage also sets records

In the 73 years since humans first set foot on Mount Everest, 704 women climbers have reached the summit. According to the department’s ‘Mountaineering in Nepal, Facts and Figures-2025’, 425 women have demonstrated their courage on Mount Everest in the last decade alone.

On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary became the first human to climb Mount Everest, but it was another 22 years before a female climber reached the summit. On May 16, 1975, Japanese climber Junko Tabei became the first female to climb Mount Everest, and 18 years later, on April 22, 1993, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa became the first Nepali female climber to reach the summit. Unfortunately, she died while returning from the summit.

According to the department’s statistics, 44 women completed the climb of Mount Everest in 2016. Not a single woman climbed Mount Everest due to the earthquake in 2015. That year, the climbing season was affected, and 22 people lost their lives in an avalanche in the Everest region. Which is considered a tragic incident in the history of Mount Everest.

Similarly, 44 women climbers summited Everest in 2016, 33 in 2017, 51 in 2018, and 65 in 2019. In 2020, when climbing was suspended due to the global coronavirus pandemic, not a single person climbed Everest. In 2021, 44 people, 69 in 2022, 66 in 2023, and 63 women in 2024 have set foot on Everest.

According to the Department of Tourism, Kamirita (male) and Lakpa (female) have reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 32nd time and 11th time, respectively, setting world records for the most number of climbers to summit Mount Everest.