The youngest person to ever scale the 14 tallest mountains in the world, a Nepali teenager wants to use his talents to help the Sherpa people of Himalayan country and produce world-class athletes.

Sherpas are an ethnic group that lives mainly around Mount Everest. They are known for their climbing abilities, which make them a vital part of mountain expeditions.

The amount they earn from a single trip can range anywhere from $2,500 up to $16,500, depending on their experience.

Nima Rinji Sherpa (18) said, "I would like to see Sherpas become global athletes and not just guides." She climbed Shishapangma in Tibet, the 14th highest mountain peak on earth at 8,027m (26 335ft).

The 12th grader who started climbing at 16 and has scaled 14 peaks over 8,000 ft in the past two years said, "We deserve to have the same privileges as Western climbers."

He said that he would use his climbing abilities to establish contacts with donors, mobilize funds, and provide support to schools, hospitals, and other activities for the benefit of mountain communities.

Nima, whose lower face was still blackened by sun reflections on the snow while he climbed the mountain, said: "I want be a mediator between the community and the donor agencies."

Nima, the son of an experienced Everest climber, now runs his company that organises expeditions. He beat the record set by Mingma Gyalu Sherpa from Nepal who was 30 years old when he accomplished the feat in 2019.

He said that his most difficult climb was 8,034 m (26 358 ft) of Pakistan's Gasherbrum II in the last year, after he had scaled Gasherbrum 1, the 11th highest mountain at 8,080m (26 510 ft), without any rest or food.

Nima's "fragile" body as a teenager has not yet finished growing. He said, "I am weaker than I should be."

Last year, he fell from about 16 ft up to 32 ft on Pakistan's Nanga Parbat and was caught by a small avalanche.

He said, "I don't push myself past my limits." There is (the necessity for) good judgement. "There is (need for) safety."

Nima is aiming to climb Mount Manaslu in Nepal this winter. It's the eighth highest mountain peak on earth at 8,163 meters (26,781 feet).

He said that an 8,000 m mountain had never been climbed alpine-style in winter. This is the method where climbers ascend the mountain in one go without oxygen, and with minimal support. (Reporting and editing by Shilpa jamkhandikar, Clarence Fernandez).

(source: Reuters)