KATHMANDU, MAY 30
The government has awarded record-holding climber Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, popularly known as Mingma G, with the prestigious International Sagarmath Award 2082.
Amidst an event organised to mark the 72nd International Sagarmatha Day and World Summiteers' Summit in Kathmandu, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli honoured Mingma G with the Sagarmath Award for his unwavering spirit, extraordinary achievement and inspiring pursuit of the world's highest peaks.
Mingma G, who started his climbing career in 2006, became the first Nepalese to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000m without using supplemental oxygen. He has climbed Everest six times (2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2022), K2 five times (2014, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2024), Manaslu seven times, Kanchenjunga twice, Makalu twice, Broad Peak twice, Cho Oyu twice, Dhaulagiri twice Annapurna twice as well as Lhotse, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, and Shishapangma once.
Mingma G, born and raised in Rolwaling Valley at an altitude of 4,200m, on 27th December 2024, completed his 7 summit peaks on 7 continents.
Mingma G, who runs Imagine Nepal Treks Pvt. Ltd, also holds the record for the most summits of Manaslu without oxygen. Out of his 7 summits, he reached the foresummit 4 times and the main summit 3 times. His summit in 2021, while opening the route to the main summit, was with oxygen, whereas the other 6 ascents were without supplemental oxygen.
Mingma G's Nanga Parbat summit in 2017 was also the first autumn summit of Nanga Parbat. He was one of the 10 Nepalese climbers and the leader of his team for the first winter ascent of K2. In 2024, he also reached the South Pole on skis. Only a few Nepalese have made it to the South Pole, and he is one among them.
Mingma G, an IFMGA/UIAGM certified guide, is also the first summiteer on Mt Cheki-Go (6,257m), Mt Bamongo (6,400m) and Mt Chobuje (6,685m) via west.
