KATHMANDU: International mountain guide Pema Chhiring Sherpa today stood atop the world’s highest peak, making the most ascents of Mt. Everest by an IFMGA guide.

IFMGA/UIAGM-certified guide Pema Chhiring created history by successfully scaling Everest for the 25th time this morning, said Lakpa Sherpa, Expedition Leader and Managing Director of 8K Expeditions.

The 43-year-old mountain guide from Gaurishankar-1 in Dolakha district has now become the only IFMGA guide to make the 25th ascent of Mt. Everest, according to Sherpa. “Leading a team of Chinese climbers for 8K Expeditions, Pema reached the summit point,” Sherpa said.

The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association also congratulated Pema for his remarkable feat. “Among over 7,000 IFMGA-certified guides across 28 member countries, Pema Chhiring Sherpa now holds the record for the most Everest summits,” said Tulsi Gurung, President of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA).

Pema first climbed Mt. Everest at age 17 in 2001. He received basic mountaineering training from the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) in 2009 and achieved IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations) certification in 2018.

Along with Pema Chhiring, Dawa Ongju Sherpa also scaled Everest, said Lakpa. Dawa Ongju has an extraordinary record of 45 successful ascents of 8,000-meter peaks, along with 88 summits of various 6,000- and 7,000-meter peaks across Nepal, China and Pakistan.

From 8K Expeditions, Tian Yungui, Zhang Xuchai, Zhao Meilin, Zeki Kurt, Wang Xing, and Fu Jiaming from China also scaled Mt. Everest.

“Ming Dawa Sherpa, Mingma Dorchee Sherpa, Dawa Nupu Sherpa, Dawa Nurbu Sherpa, Gevorg Gasparyan and Tendu Sherpa also stood atop the roof of the world,” he added.