Nepali mountaineer Kili Pemba Sherpa completes all 14 of the World’s 8,000-Metre peaks with Nanga Parbat Summit

KATHMANDU: Nepal has added another remarkable chapter to its mountaineering legacy as veteran climber Kili Pemba Sherpa successfully completed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre mountains after reaching the summit of Nanga Parbat (8,125 metres) in Pakistan on Friday, joining the elite group of mountaineers worldwide to have conquered every peak above 8,000 metres.

The achievement was confirmed by expedition organizer Imagine Nepal Trek and Expedition, which announced that its senior climbing guide reached the summit of Nanga Parbat alongside fellow Nepali guide Lakpa Chhiri Sherpa and Chinese climber Wang Zhong. The successful ascent marked the completion of Kili Pemba Sherpa’s long journey to stand atop all fourteen of the world’s highest mountains.

Nanga Parbat, often referred to as the “Killer Mountain,” is the world’s ninth-highest peak at 8,125 metres (26,657 feet) and is regarded as one of the most technically demanding and dangerous mountains in the Himalayas due to its steep terrain, avalanche-prone slopes, and unpredictable weather.

Exclusive Club of Elite Mountaineers

Scaling all fourteen mountains above 8,000 metres is widely considered one of the greatest accomplishments in high-altitude mountaineering. The fourteen peaks are located across Nepal, China (Tibet), Pakistan and the India-China border region and include:

• Mount Everest (8,849 m)
• K2 (8,611 m)
• Kangchenjunga (8,586 m)
• Lhotse (8,516 m)
• Makalu (8,485 m)
• Cho Oyu (8,188 m)
• Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m)
• Manaslu (8,163 m)
• Nanga Parbat (8,125 m)
• Annapurna I (8,091 m)
• Gasherbrum I (8,080 m)
• Broad Peak (8,051 m)
• Gasherbrum II (8,035 m)
• Shishapangma (8,027 m)

Only a relatively small number of climbers worldwide have completed the full list, underlining the significance of Kili Pemba Sherpa’s latest milestone.

Another Milestone for Nepal’s Mountaineering Community

Kili Pemba Sherpa’s accomplishment further reinforces Nepal’s dominant position in global high-altitude mountaineering, where Sherpa climbers continue to play a leading role in Himalayan expeditions as guides, route setters and record holders.

Over the past several years, Nepali climbers have continued to set new global benchmarks. Climbers such as Mingma G Sherpa became the first Nepali to complete all 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen, while Nima Rinji Sherpa became the youngest person ever to summit all fourteen peaks.

Imagine Nepal Celebrates Historic Achievement

Following the successful expedition, Imagine Nepal Trek and Expedition congratulated its senior climbing guide, describing the ascent as the successful completion of one of mountaineering’s most prestigious challenges.

The expedition company said Kili Pemba Sherpa reached the summit of Nanga Parbat on Friday morning, officially completing all fourteen 8,000-metre peaks and adding another historic achievement to Nepal’s growing list of world-class mountaineering records.

The accomplishment comes during Pakistan’s summer climbing season, when international expeditions attempt the country’s five eight-thousanders, including K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II and Nanga Parbat.

Kili Pemba Sherpa’s latest achievement once again highlights the extraordinary endurance, technical expertise and global leadership of Nepali climbers in Himalayan mountaineering, further strengthening Nepal’s reputation as the world’s premier destination for high-altitude climbing and adventure tourism.