Lhakpa Sherpa, nicknamed the “Mountain Queen,” has extended her own record by becoming the first woman to summit Mount Everest 11 times. At 52, she reached the peak again on May 17 at 9:30 a.m., according to Nepal’s Department of Tourism.
Born in a small village in Nepal, Lhakpa first stood atop Everest in 2000. Despite limited opportunities in her early life, she continued to pursue high-altitude climbing while building a new life abroad. After moving to the United States, she worked to support her family while maintaining her mountaineering career.
Her journey has included significant personal and financial challenges, including surviving domestic abuse. Through those hardships she remained committed to her goals and to returning to the world’s highest peak.
Lhakpa’s story reached a wider audience with the 2023 Netflix documentary Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa, which profiles her climbs and the obstacles she overcame. Her latest ascent reinforces her place among the most accomplished high-altitude climbers in the world.
She shares updates with followers on social media under the handle @mountain_queen_10.
