KATHMANDU: Phunjo Jangmu Lama, the Nepali climber who holds the world record for the fastest female ascent of Mount Everest, was among eight climbers who successfully summited the world's highest peak on May 18 as part of Altipro Adventures' inaugural Everest expedition.

The eight-member team reached the summit of Everest (8,848.86m) in two separate pushes in the early hours of Monday. The first group, comprising Australian climber Jennifer Claire Willis, Phunjo Jangmu Lama, Mingma Nurbu Sherpa, and Pastenji Sherpa, summited at 2:35 am Nepal Standard Time. 

Minutes earlier at 2:25 am, Malaysian mountaineer Mohd Khafiz Bin Bachok, Mongolian climber Munkhuu Myagmar, Mingma Dorchi Sherpa (Saila), and Karma Gyalje Sherpa had already reached the top.

For Phunjo, Sunday's summit adds to an already remarkable Everest record. In 2024, the Gorkha-born climber set the world record for the fastest female ascent of Everest, reaching the summit in just 14 hours and 31 minutes from base camp, reclaiming a title she had previously held.

The summit also marks a milestone for Altipro Adventures, which was mounting its first ever Everest expedition this spring season. "This achievement marks the beginning of our journey in high-altitude expedition leadership," the expedition organisers said, adding that the success reflected months of preparation, acclimatisation, route planning, and weather strategy.

The entire team was descending toward base camp following the summit, Altipro Adventures informed