On 12 May 2022, Nepal’s Lhakpa Sherpa (51) was on her record-breaking tenth summit of Mount Everest. During this climb, she reflected on her own life and felt as powerful as she had during her first Everest ascent. With this feat, she became the world’s only woman to have climbed the world’s highest peak ten times. This was not the first time Lhakpa had set a record in the male-dominated world of high-altitude mountaineering. In 2000 she made history by becoming the first Nepali woman to reach the summit of Sagarmatha (the Nepali name for Mount Everest) and descend alive. Before her; Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, another Nepali woman, had attempted the feat but tragically passed away during the descent.
Lhakpa’s accomplishments in mountaineering are extraordinary. Whether taking the common route from Nepal or tackling the toughest and rarest route from Tibet, she has successfully navigated them all.
Today, she is a global icon, but there was a time when she lived under the shadow of an abusive marriage, with her achievements largely unrecognised. In 2023, Netflix highlighted her triumphs and tribulations through a documentary named ‘Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa’, bringing her remarkable story to a global audience.
Overcoming a life of adversity
Born in 1973 in a remote village in the Makalu region of Nepal, Lhakpa was one of eleven siblings in a traditional Sherpa family. Her parents were yak farmers and like most girls in her village, she was never allowed to attend school. However, she was always fascinated by the mountains and decided to defy societal norms. As revealed in the Netflix documentary, she used to disguise herself as a boy, with short hair, to work as a porter at Everest base camp.
In 2000, she first had the opportunity to live her dream, and she seized it very well. After her first climb, her confidence soared, leading her to believe that the sky had no limits and now she holds the record for summiting Everest ten times.
Being known as the “Mountain Queen” was not easy to achieve. Her biggest challenge came from her personal life. Lakhpa met a fellow mountaineer, Gheorghe Dijmarescu, in 2000 and fell in love. They married in 2002 and moved to the United States. Initially, her husband supported her but later turned out to be a controlling and abusive partner. In 2012, Dijmarescu assaulted Lhakpa, leading to her hospitalisation and their eventual separation.
A Story of Resilience and Recognition
Lhakpa’s story caught the attention of British director Lucy Walker, who spent six years documenting her journey. The documentary premiered to standing ovations at the Toronto Film Festival and was later picked up by Netflix.
Mountain Queen delves into her struggles as a single mother in the US, working at a supermarket in Connecticut to support her three children. Despite the many challenges she has faced, Lhakpa Sherpa remains a beacon of resilience and determination, inspiring countless others with her story of courage, endurance, and breaking barriers in the world of mountaineering.
Shared By: Sameeksha Sharma
Author’s Bio: Sameeksha balances her love for writing and travelling with a passion for politics and cricket stats. When she’s not caught up in her latest art and colouring obsession, you’ll find her playing badminton.
