Dawa Yangzum Sherpa
Trailblazing mountaineer and guide
Dawa Yangzum Sherpa is a pioneering Nepalese mountaineer known for her significant achievements in high-altitude climbing.
I didn't have anyone to look up to and sometimes doubted if I could do it. But hopefully my small success will inspire other girls to follow their dreams.
Dawa Yangzum Sherpa
Scaling new heights
Dawa Yangzum Sherpa has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of mountaineering, breaking barriers and setting new standards for climbers worldwide.
As the first Nepalese woman to become an internationally certified mountain guide, she has played a vital role in showcasing the capabilities of female climbers on some of the world's highest peaks.
A journey of courage
Dawa’s passion for climbing began in her home region of Rolwaling Valley, Nepal.
She quickly rose through the ranks of the mountaineering community, becoming the first Nepalese woman to be certified as an International Federation of Mountains Guides Associations guide in 2017, a testament to her exceptional skills and mountaineering knowledge. Her ascent of K2 in 2014 was particularly noteworthy, as she was part of the first all-female team from Nepal to summit the mountain and was the youngest female to reach its peak at the time. In 2024, Dawa achieved another remarkable feat by becoming the first Nepalese woman to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre mountains, completing this monumental challenge with her summit of Shishapangma.
She first summited Mount Everest at the age of 21 in 2012 and has since climbed it multiple times. In 2019, she completed a speed ascent of Makalu in just 21 hours, showcasing her exceptional endurance and skill. Dawa continued to break barriers by becoming the first Nepalese woman to summit Annapurna I without supplemental oxygen in 2021, and later that year, she became the first woman to summit Manaslu in the autumn season. In 2022, she added another first to her list by becoming the first Nepalese woman to summit Broad Peak.
Dawa is a powerful advocate for women in mountaineering and environmental conservation. As such, she is running a course training young Nepalese women in high-altitude climbing techniques, hoping to encourage them to pursue a career in climbing.
She became a Rolex Testimonee in 2022.
