Pasang Dawa Sherpa Summits Everest for the 30th Time, Becoming Only the Second Climber in History to Do So
There is a village called Pangboche, sitting quietly in the shadow of the world’s highest mountains. It is here that Pasang Dawa Sherpa known to everyone simply as Pa Dawa was born on January 18, 1977. Growing up so close to the Himalayas, the mountains were never a distant dream for him. They were home.
Who Is Pa Dawa?
Pa Dawa Sherpa is one of Nepal’s most accomplished climbing guides. He is widely regarded as a hidden gem among Nepalese climbers respected deeply within the mountaineering world, though not always in the global headlines. Humble and deeply dedicated to his craft, Pa Dawa has spent his entire life in the mountains.
His favourite mountain is not Everest. It is Ama Dablam just one and a half hours from his home in Pangboche. He has climbed it over 70 times. That number alone tells you everything about the kind of person he is someone who climbs not for fame, but out of love.
How It All Began
Pa Dawa first stood on top of Mount Everest in 1998, at just 21 years old. That first summit came while he was assisting British adventurer Bear Grylls. It was the beginning of something extraordinary.
From that day, he returned to Everest almost every year. Some years, he climbed it twice. His previous ascents break down like this:
He climbed Everest twice in 2001, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2022. He climbed it once in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2017.
Each climb, the same mountain. Each time, a choice to go back.
Beyond Everest, he has also summited Cho Oyu the sixth-highest mountain in the world five times, and has reached the tops of Lhotse and Manaslu as well.
The 30th Summit
Nepal’s spring climbing season of 2025 witnessed another historic morning. On Monday, Pa Dawa, now 49 years old, reached the summit of Mount Everest at 8:25 am for the 30th time. The expedition was organised by Climbing The Seven Summits.
With this climb, Pa Dawa became only the second person in history to summit Everest 30 times. The only climber ahead of him is Kami Rita Sherpa, who has reached the top 32 times.
HIMALI, a premium mountaineering and outdoor apparel brand known for high-performance expedition gear, confirmed the news
“Pa Dawa Sherpa just summited Everest for the 30th time a truly incredible accomplishment that is born from a life spent climbing in the Himalaya.”
Thirty summits. One mountain. One man from Pangboche who simply never stopped going back.
