Sherpa teenager Nima Rinji Sherpa, at 18, has made mountaineering history as the youngest person to summit the world's 14 tallest peaks. He is now calling for greater recognition of Sherpas. Traditionally seen as support staff in Himalayan climbs, Nima Rinji advocates for Sherpas to be acknowledged as "athletes and expedition leaders." He launched the "Sherpa power" campaign to that end. "This generation does have the potential because we have the privileges that those before us didn't have, like good education, speaking well and we can understand what is happening regarding climate change, regarding the mountains," he said.
Coming from a renowned climbing family, Nima Rinji plans to continue challenging the status quo. He and his team aim for a daring winter ascent of Nepal's Mount Manaslu, marking his return to one of the formidable peaks he previously conquered. This Alpine-style ascent involves no support staff, fixed ropes, or extra oxygen, as they intend to rely solely on their skills and endurance. Before this daunting climb, Nima Rinji will train on smaller peaks, starting next week.
The Sherpa community, renowned for resilience and mountain expertise, was previously limited to roles as porters and guides since Nepal's open borders in the 1950s. Famously, Tenzing Norgay's climb alongside Edmund Hillary in 1953 solidified this reputation. However, Nima Rinji believes modern Sherpas possess capabilities and awareness unlike previous generations. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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