KATHMANDU: Lhakpa Sherpa, a 48-year-old Nepali mountaineer, has done it again. On Sunday morning, she reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepal side for the 11th time, the most by any woman in history.

According to Mingma Gelu Sherpa, Managing Director of Seven Summit Adventure, Lhakpa began her final push from Camp IV early Sunday and stood on top of the world at 9:30 a.m. local time. She is now safely descending to lower camps.

Born in the Makalu region of Sankhuwasabha, Lhakpa first climbed Everest in 2000 without any formal training. That climb marked the beginning of an extraordinary career: she has now summited Everest 11 times—three times from the Nepal side and eight from the Tibetan side. No other woman has achieved this feat.

But Lhakpa’s story is about more than records. She says she climbs to empower women and inspire young people, adding that she wants to prove Nepali women are both hardworking and determined. "They can do anything they want," she has said.

What makes her achievements even more remarkable is her life off the mountain. Lhakpa lives in suburban Connecticut, USA, where she works as a dishwasher at a Whole Foods Market in Hartford. She previously worked at a Seven-Eleven store. She climbed Everest just eight months after giving birth to her first daughter, and while two months pregnant with her second child.

In 2023, Lhakpa also summited K2, the world’s second-highest peak. This season, she was part of the Seven Summit Adventure expedition, accompanying one of her own clients.

"She is safely descending," Mingma Gelu confirmed from Everest Base Camp.