Mingma David Sherpa eyes record seventh K2 summit
Record holding Nepali climber aims to set new world record with seventh ascent of K2, the world’s deadliest mountain.
Renowned Nepali mountaineer Mingma David Sherpa is preparing for his seventh ascent of K2 this summer, aiming to set a new world record for the most summits of the world’s second-highest and most dangerous peak.
“This will be my seventh time on K2,” Mingma announced in a recent Instagram post. “No journey is ever the same, and this one carries its own meaning.”
If successful, Mingma David will become the first person to climb the 8,611-meter mountain seven times. He still holds the record for the most ascents of K2, with six successful climbs.
In 2019, Mingma David became the youngest person to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks—a record he held until 2024, when 18-year-old Nima Rinji Sherpa completed the same challenge.
He is also one of the 10 Nepali climbers who made history by completing the first-ever winter ascent of K2 in 2021, a feat that had eluded mountaineers for over 30 years despite numerous attempts.
Mingma David remains the only Nepali climber to receive the Piolet d’Or Asia award, often referred to as the “Oscar of mountaineering”.
He also holds a record for summiting both Everest and K2 within 61 days.
Nicknamed the "Savage Mountain," K2 is notorious for its extreme weather and steep, avalanche-prone slopes. It has one of the highest fatality rates among 8,000-meter peaks—nearly one in four climbers who attempt it do not survive.
In 2022, Mingma David reached the K2 summit from base camp in 14 hours and 22 minutes. Chhiring Sherpa summited the peak in 12 hours and 20 minutes on the same day.
Originally from Phaktanglung of Taplejung district, Mingma began his mountaineering career as a porter and kitchen assistant. He summited Everest for the first time in 2010 and has since reached the top of an 8,000-meter peak 35 times.
He advocates for stricter safety standards and improved environmental practices in the Himalayas, citing the growing impacts of climate change on high-altitude climbing.
Mingma David co-leads Elite Exped, an expedition company, alongside fellow mountaineering legend Nimsdai Purja.
“Death is karma,” he said. “But respect, resilience, and unity are our legacy.”
As the climbing season peaks, the world watches to see whether Mingma David Sherpa can once again defy the odds on K2’s unforgiving slopes.
