Tenzing David Sherpa completes the Himalayan Triple Crown and almost didn’t plan to do it at all.
Tenzing David Sherpa is not a full-time mountaineer. He is a physiotherapist with a master’s degree from a Belgian university. He runs a resort.
He manages one of Nepal’s most respected trekking companies. But in May 2026, he did something that only a handful of climbers in the world have ever done he climbed Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse in a single season, completing what mountaineers call the Triple Crown, in under five days.
Who is he?
Tenzing David Sherpa comes from one of Nepal’s most prominent mountaineering and tourism families. His father, Ang Tshering Sherpa, founded Asian Trekking in 1981 nepal’s oldest trekking and expedition company. Ang Tshering is a heavyweight in the climbing world Honorary Member of the UIAA, former President of the UAAA, and past President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
His elder brother, Dawa Steven Sherpa, is a well-known mountaineer and environmentalist.
Tenzing David himself serves as Director of Asian Trekking and Managing Director of Himalayan Chain Resort and The Terraces Resort and Spa. By professional training, he is a physiotherapist he graduated cum laude from Ghent University in Belgium in 2012 with a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy.
His climbing background
Tenzing David’s high-altitude journey did not begin with the Triple Crown. He had already climbed Island Peak and Lobuche East both serious Himalayan training peaks.
In the spring of 2025, he summited Mount Everest for the first time. Then in September 2025, he reached the top of Mount Manaslu (8,163m), the world’s eighth-highest peak, as part of the Asian Trekking–Chengdu Snow Lion Sports Manaslu Expedition.
Each of these climbs built the foundation for what came next.
The Triple Crown
The Triple Crown climbing Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Nuptse (7,861m) in one continuous push or in quick succession is considered one of the most demanding challenges in the Himalayas. The three peaks sit close to each other in the Khumbu region
What makes Tenzing David’s achievement even more Exceptional is this he had not originally planned or prepared for it.
According to his brother Dawa Steven, Tenzing David stepped in at short notice to take over the organisation of rope-fixing on Nuptse when other teams were unable to fully support it. He then led clients safely up all three peaks within a tight timeframe alongside their Chinese team leader, Qiangzi.
The dates tell the story plainly Nuptse- May 17, 2026, Everest – May 20, 2026, Lhotse — May 21, 2026
Three peaks. Five days. Unplanned.
What his brother said
After the climb, Dawa Steven Sherpa wrote publicly about his pride not in the physical feat, but in who his brother is as a person.
“What makes me most proud of your achievement today is not the demonstration of your incredible strength, endurance and will power,” he wrote. “What I am most proud of is your rare character in how you take on responsibility far beyond anyone’s expectations, your quiet humility when you turn them into successes and to genuinely want everyone around you to also share in that success without ever asking for any credit.”
Where it sits in the 2026 season
Tenzing David’s Triple Crown was part of a remarkable spring 2026 climbing season on the Everest massif. Norwegian climber Kristin Harila was also eyeing the Triple Crown after summiting both Nuptse and Lhotse. Ming Temba Sherpa, part of the Everest rope-fixing team, had already completed the Triple Crown as well.
But Tenzing David’s completion unplanned, under five days, while simultaneously managing rope-fixing responsibilities and leading clients stands apart.
He is, as his father noted after the Manaslu climb, sending “a strong and positive message of peace, stability, and confidence from Nepal to the world.” A physiotherapist. A hotelier. A mountaineer. And now, a Triple Crown holder.
