Dawa Yangzum Sherpa first Nepali woman to complete the 14

Renowned mountaineer Dawa Yangzum Sherpa made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Nepali woman to summit all 14 of the world’s peaks towering above 8,000 meters, according to her expedition organizer.

Dawa, who is the first Asian woman to become an IFMGA/UIAGM-certified mountain guide, earned this prestigious title in 2017. In 2019, she joined The North Face as an athlete, becoming the brand’s first ambassador from Nepal. She later became the youngest and first Nepali to serve as a brand ambassador for Rolex in 2021. She also represents brands like Lekki and Oakley sunglasses.

Her mountaineering achievements began with her historic ascent of Mt. K2 in 2014, alongside Maya Sherpa and Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita, marking them as the first Nepali women to summit the world’s second-highest peak. Dawa, the youngest member of the team, quickly established herself as a trailblazer.

In 2019, she climbed Annapurna I without supplemental oxygen, becoming the first Nepali woman to summit Mt. Makalu the same year. She set a record in 2022 by scaling Mt. Makalu in just 20 hours, the fastest time among female climbers. She also became the first Nepali woman to summit Broad Peak.

As a professional guide, Dawa has led several expeditions, including guiding the National Geographic scientific research team on Mount Everest in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Beyond her mountaineering feats, she is committed to mentoring young Nepali girls with mountaineering aspirations and currently serves as the second vice president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, the leading organization for Nepal’s climbing community.