Lhakpa Sherpa scaled Everest 11 times and washed dishes to survive: Her story

Growing up as a nomadic girl in the Makalu region of eastern Nepal, perched more than 13,000 feet above sea level, Lhakpa Sherpa’s childhood was defined by the strict gender roles of her community. Born in a cave, she never knew her actual birthday. While she spent her mornings carrying her brothers on her shoulders for hours to deliver them to school, she was denied an education herself simply because she was a girl. Society dictated that her place was at home, mastering domestic chores.

But Lhakpa’s education happened on the rugged slopes of the Himalayas. By teaching herself the demanding technical skills of high-altitude mountaineering, she did not just survive; she conquered. In 2000, she made history as the first Nepalese woman to scale Mount Everest and survive the descent. By May 2026, she had rewritten her own Guinness World Record, standing atop the world’s highest peak for an incredible 11th time.

From washing dishes to making history
Despite her legendary status in the mountaineering world, Lhakpa’s journey has been anything but smooth. For years, she lived in Connecticut, USA, navigating severe financial hardships to keep her climbing dreams alive. Between her historic expeditions, Lhakpa worked low-income jobs, washing dishes and cleaning houses to support her family.

"Even during the intervals between my Everest climbs, I washed dishes and cleaned houses in America," Lhakpa shares. "I took whatever work came my way. Some people might think that because I scaled Everest multiple times, I would consider myself above manual labour. But I have never had such thoughts." Today, Lhakpa is finally finding entrepreneurial success, running her own guiding outfit, Cloudscape Climbing, where she serves as a director.

Climbing through pregnancy and motherhood
Lhakpa’s resilience is legendary. She even summited Mount Everest while pregnant, a feat that defies medical and physical norms. Later, she paused her career for 15 years to raise her children, a sacrifice she speaks of with fierce maternal pride and a touch of athletic wonder.

"I went to Everest even when I was pregnant," Lhakpa says. "After that, I had to focus on my responsibilities as a mother for a long time. If it were not for that gap, I would have easily stood on the summit of Everest 30 times by now." She made a triumphant return to the peak in 2022, securing her 10th summit. When her children ask when she plans to retire from the high altitudes, her response is prompt and unwavering: "If my health permits, I want to keep climbing Everest until I am 80 years old."

The story of a true mountain queen
As the undisputed female record-holder for the most Everest summits, Lhakpa’s life has now caught the global spotlight. Her extraordinary journey is the subject of the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary, Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker.

Lhakpa Sherpa’s story is a powerful testament to human endurance, showing that no barrier—whether social prejudice, financial distress, or physical limits—is too high to scale. She continues to inspire a new generation of climbers worldwide, proving that the mountains do not care about your gender; they only care about your resolve.