Phurba Tashi Sherpa

Phurba Tashi Sherpa Mendewa is a renowned Nepalese mountaineer celebrated for his impressive achievements in high-altitude climbing, particularly in the Himalayas. Born in Khumjung, Nepal, just 10 kilometers from the base of Mount Everest, Tashi was immersed in climbing from a young age, inspired by the expeditions of his father and uncles.

His ascent of Cho Oyu in 1998 marked his first successful summit of an eight-thousander. The following year, at 28, he reached the summit of Mount Everest for the first time. Tashi's career is distinguished by an astounding 21 ascents of Everest, alongside notable climbs of six on Cho Oyu, eight on Manaslu, and one each on Shishapangma and Lhotse.

In 2000, he played a pivotal role in the first snowboard descent of Cho Oyu alongside Marco Siffredi. Their friendship deepened over shared climbs, although tragedy struck when Siffredi was lost while attempting to snowboard the Hornbein Couloir in 2002.

Tashi gained further recognition through his appearances in the Discovery Channel series "Everest: Beyond the Limit," participating in 11 episodes, the most of any climber featured. Notably, in 2007, he summited Everest three times in one season and was involved in a pioneering double traverse of the mountain, further showcasing his climbing prowess.

In May 2013, Phurba Tashi achieved his 21st Everest summit while working for Kishan Rai Mountain Experience, equaling the record then held by Apa Sherpa, a feat later surpassed in 2018 by Kami Rita Sherpa.