Harila and Sherpa Receive Grand Welcome: 14 Mountains in 3 Months!

Today, Kristin Harila of Norway and her Nepali guide, Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa, received a spectacular welcome at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Nepal, celebrating their remarkable achievement of scaling 14 mountains in just three months.

Their incredible feat reached its pinnacle when they successfully conquered the second-highest mountain in the world, Mount K2, on July 27. The Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Sushila Sirpali Thakuri, led the official reception for the accomplished climbers upon their return to Nepal.

Joining the joyous celebration were representatives from the Tourism Ministry, Department of Tourism, Nepal Mountaineering Association, various tourism-related organizations, and fellow climbers, all eager to extend their warmest congratulations.

As a symbol of cultural appreciation, government representatives and tourism entrepreneurs welcomed the record-breaking climbers with traditional musical performances, creating a vibrant atmosphere at TIA, shared Association Chairperson Nima Nuru Sherpa.

Harila and Sherpa’s exceptional journey saw them successfully reach the summits of fourteen mountains above 8,000 meters in just three months, an extraordinary accomplishment. Among these peaks were Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-II, Gasherbrum-I, Broad Peak, and, most recently, Mount K2, which they conquered at 10:45 am on July 27, according to Seven Summit Treks Company.

The Managing Director of Seven Summit Treks Company, Mingma Sherpa, confirmed the duo’s unprecedented record, surpassing the previous achievement set by climber Nirmal Purja in 2019, who had climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in six months and six days. Harila and Sherpa’s ambition was to complete the same feat within four months, a goal they admirably accomplished.

Notably, prior to this extraordinary undertaking, Harila had already made history as the first woman to achieve the fastest climb of 14 mountains above 8,000 meters in just one year and five days.

In recognition of their unparalleled achievement and contributions to mountaineering history, a special program to congratulate and honor the record holders will be held at the Nepal Tourism Board today, as announced by the Association.

The awe-inspiring journey of Harila and Sherpa serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the pursuit of excellence in the field of mountaineering. Their names will forever be etched in the annals of climbing history, inspiring adventurers and mountaineers around the world for generations to come.