Climbing
K2 is 28,251 feet above sea level, the world’s second tallest mountain behind Mt. Everest, and straddles the border of Pakistan and China. It is on almost every serious climber’s bucket list. K2 is known as the Savage Mountain because of its steep ascents, harsh weather conditions, and the second-highest fatality rate behind Annapurna. It is considered one of the most difficult and dangerous mountains to climb in the world, with approximately 1 out of 4 people dying trying to reach the summit.
Nima Rinji Sherpa, from Sankhuwasabha in Nepal, has become the youngest to ascend K2 at 10:45 am local time on July 27, 2023. Rinji scaled K2 at 17 years and 99 days old, according to Chhang Dawa Sherpa, the Expedition Director at Seven Summit Treks. Rinji started breaking records when he was just 16 years old when he became the youngest to scale 26,781 foot Mt. Manaslu (8,163 meters) in September of 2022. Rinji is the son of Tashi Lakpa, a mountaineering legend who is also breaking world records.
Rinji and Lakpa form a father and son climbing tandem that is very tough to beat and have climbed the most sought out and dangerous mountains in the world. Lapka is no stranger to mountaineering and holds the world record for the youngest person to climb Mt. Everest without supplementary oxygen in 2005 at 19. He also wants to climb the seven highest peaks of the seven continents. He has climbed Mt. Denali in North America, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Mt. Elbrus in Europe.
Their family has deep roots growing up in the Himalayas, and it is easy to wonder what the future holds for Rinji in big mountain climbing. Lakpa, who owns Seven Summit Treks and 14 Peaks Expedition, said, “He (Rinji) will attempt to scale Cho Oyu and Shishapangma in the coming season.” He added that Rinji is on a mission to become the youngest climber to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters.
Nima Rinji Sherpa’s climbing career has started amazingly, and his future looks bright in mountaineering. Of course, people will wonder if he will ever catch or break any of his father’s records. Only Nima Rinji can answer that question.
