Phunjo Jhangmu Lama back at base camp with record ascent
Adding to her achievement of breaking the record for the fastest female ascent to the summit in 14 hours and 31 minutes, she completes the base camp-to-base camp trip in 24 hours and 26 minutes.
Nepali climber Phunjo Jhangmu Lama has safely returned to base camp after breaking the record for the fastest ascent of the world’s highest peak, reaching the summit in 14 hours and 31 minutes. This accomplishment surpasses the previous record held by Ada Tsang Yin-hung of Hong Kong, who climbed Everest in 25 hours and 50 minutes. Lama's started her summit push from the base camp at 3:52 p.m. on May 22 and she reached the summit at 6:26 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, according to Khimlal Gautam, Chief of the Expedition Monitoring and Facilitation Field Office at the base camp. "She completed the base camp to base camp trip in 24 hours and 26 minutes," Gautam said.
Lama was welcomed back by representatives of the Department of Tourism and fellow climbers, who cheered at her succes.
Lama first gained recognition with the fastest ascent of Mount Everest from the Nepal side by a female, summiting in 39 hours and 6 minutes in 2018. Her record was broken in May 2021 by Tsang Yin-hung, who completed her climb 14 hours faster. Lama, who hails from Gorkha, has summited several major peaks, including Manaslu, Ama Dablam, Lobuche, Denali, and Cho Oyu.
Tsang Yin-hung, a schoolteacher from Hong Kong, set her record in 2021 by summiting Everest in 25 hours and 50 minutes, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The overall fastest ascent record is held by Sherpa guide Lakpa Gelu, who climbed the peak in 10 hours and 56 minutes
