Why in the News?

Nepal’s Nima Rinji Sherpa, at 18 years and 5 months, set a world record as the youngest to summit all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, completing the feat in 740 days. His final climb was Tibet’s Mount Shishapangma, marking the end of his journey that began in September 2022. Sherpa joins an elite group who have conquered these “eight-thousanders.”

Eight-Thousanders

• These are the 14 mountains that rise above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) in elevation.
• These peaks are located in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges across Nepal, China, Pakistan, and India.
• Climbing all of them is considered one of the most challenging feats in mountaineering due to their extreme altitudes, harsh weather conditions and technical difficulty.
• They are -
  • Mount Everest
  • Karakoram (K2)
  • Kangchenjunga
  • Lhotse
  • Makalu
  • Cho Oyu
  • Dhaulagiri
  • Manaslu
  • Nanga Parbat
  • Annapurna I
  • Gasherbrum I
  • Broad Peak
  • Gasherbrum II
  • Shishapangma

Nima Rinji Sherpa

International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA)

• It is an organization that promotes and supports mountaineering and climbing globally.
• Established: 1932
• It sets safety standards, organizes events and fosters environmental stewardship in mountain areas.
• Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland
• President: Peter Muir