KATHMANDU: A 30-year-old climber from Taplejung district has set the new world record in speed climbing by successfully scaling Mt Everest and K2 in just 61 days, according to the Guinness World Records.

Mingma Gyabu displays the official certificate given by the Guinness World Records for the fastest ascents of Mt Everest and Mt K2. Photo: THT

“The fastest time to climb Everest and K2 (male) is 61 days and was achieved by Mingma Gyabu Sherpa on 21 July 2018,” the GWR stated.

In 2018, Mingma Gyabu, the resident of Faktalung in Taplejung district climbed Mt Everest on May 22 and stood atop K2 in Pakistan on July 21.

“The GWR has given me the official certificate today,” Sherpa, who aims to be the youngest climber in the world to climb all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres this season, told THT.

Sherpa, who reached the summit of Broad Peak in Pakistan on July 26 completing his 13th eight-thousander this season, has left for Tibet to make attempt on Mt Shishapangma this afternoon.

Sherpa had already climbed at least seven mountains above 8,000m in the last five months to make it to 13 in the list. Sherpa, who had also conducted highest ever rescue on Mt Everest said that he would try to complete all 14 mountains above 8,000m by attempting to scale Mt Shishapangma in Tibet.

Sherpa, who is also a co-owner of Elite Himalayan Adventure, had first scaled Mt Annapurna in the third week of April in the last spring season becoming part of the Project Possible – 14/7- a team led by former UK’s Special Forces Member Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja. Along with Nims, Sherpa then climbed Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, K2 and Broad Peak in just over four months.

Sherpa has already climbed Mt Everest for the sixth time, Mt K2 twice and Mt Manaslu for the third time.