Pasang Dawa Sherpa: The Guide With 31 Everest Summits

• Everest summits31 (May 2026)
• All-time rank2nd, behind Kami Rita (32)
• First Everest summit1998, aged 21
• Born1977, Pangboche, Khumbu
• Started asTrekking porter at 15
• Other peaksAma Dablam, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Manaslu

2026 update: Pasang Dawa Sherpa summited Everest twice in May 2026, on the 18th and the 21st, bringing his total to 31 ascents. That is the second-highest count in history, one behind Kami Rita Sherpa's 32. The two men come from the same Khumbu valleys and the same trade, and they have chased the same record most springs since 2023. For more on the people who make every Everest expedition possible, read our pieces on the Sherpas of Nepal and what really happens in Everest's summit queues.

Pasang Dawa Sherpa, shortly known as Padawa. A man who knows the Himalayas like his five fingers.

Since Everest was conquered on May 29th, 1953, by Hillary and Tenzing, thousands of people are attempting to stand on top of the world. Reasons to do so differs from person to person.

Firstly, It Is Fame.

It is fame that drives to spend 60 days on the Everest expedition and challenge yourself. Eight billion people on Earth and only how many have been there? Everest is a desirable peak to all mountaineers and mountain lovers. It just stands there, it just attracts and people go.

Secondly, It Is Not For Everyone.

Technically, maybe, if you have previous experience at 7,000 to 8,000 m, you might do it. Of course, no words needed to remind you that excellent physical shape is a must but still, everyone can do it if you have a strong team. The only aspect is money. Not everyone has them. The cheapest option is starting from 50,000USD and can go up to 200,000USD with no guarantee. The climbing permit alone went up from USD 11,000 to USD 15,000 in September 2025.

The weather decides everything. You can be strong, feeling great, you can have the best team and the best equipment. All this makes your chances so much higher to succeed but if Mother Nature doesn’t show her mercy to go up – nothing can be done. You wait there and hope for a weather window to start your summit.

Thirdly, A World Record And Be Unique.

In the last couple of years, people have been going up there not because of sports interests anymore. Everyone wants to prove something or has a mission to complete: first woman on Everest, father’s dream, first child on Everest, shortest climb, in memory of, fastest climb, first time in the mountains ever, first single Israeli, oldest Indian couple on top, dying from cancer on Everest, expedition in support of global warming, to feed dying children in Zambia, to stop the war on East and so on. Millions of reasons.

But there is only one clear reason for how you reach the summit: Sherpas.

Sherpas are not porters, yeah? Read our previous article here to have a true understanding of these amazing people.

By 2023 Pasang Dawa Sherpa had climbed Everest 27 times, and by May 2026 the count was 31. Without ever aiming for it, he came within one summit of the world record, and for years hardly anyone outside the Khumbu noticed. It is not for fun. It is not for fame. It is his responsibility to make all ambitions, missions, and expeditions for people from all over the world to happen, preferably without fatalities.

From Porter to Everest Guide

Professionals like him are in demand worldwide. They are wanted by any respected trekking company, and they are honored and highly appreciated. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Nepal.

Started his way in the Himalayas when he was 15 as a porter on Everest Base Camp Trek. People who are born on an altitude higher than 4,000m are already strong by nature and can do things that others can’t. Like running, carrying heavy loads, building houses, playing football, and similar activities which even on low altitudes we can’t do sometimes.

Working as a porter is not something locals dream about but it is certainly one of the best ways in the mountains to make a living. When you go trekking in Nepal, you think, “oh, poor people, it’s heavy, why are they doing this? Leave it, not healthy for the back. No, I don’t need a porter, they are suffering”. Or maybe “what? A porter for 20 USD a day? Then here you go, 30KG for you…”There are always different people. Nowadays, it becomes even more difficult to work as a porter because yaks are highly competitive, don’t need a salary, and can carry more.

So, after being a porter, he eventually started to be a part of more difficult expeditions as a cook in expeditions like Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Cho Oyu, Lobuche, and others. Eventually got training and became a group leader.

By showing his passion, dedication and high professionalism, it led him to become a team member and summit Everest in 1998 for the first time when he was only 21.

Pasang Dawa vs Kami Rita: The Everest Summit Record

Pasang Dawa and Kami Rita Sherpa have swapped the lead in the Everest record chase for years. The 2023 season was the closest it got. Pasang Dawa tied the record at 26 on 14 May, Kami Rita went to 27 three days later, Pasang Dawa matched him again on 22 May, and the next morning Kami Rita climbed for a 28th time. Then Pasang Dawa sat out 2024. His company said he was tired of Everest and wanted a rest, and Kami Rita's two climbs that spring opened a three-summit gap. By May 2026 it was down to one.

Most Everest summits (as of June 2026)

Kami Rita was 56 when he made his 32nd climb, and he has said 2026 may be his last Everest season. If he stops there, Pasang Dawa needs two more summits to hold the record on his own.

What Do Sherpas Do on an Everest Expedition?

They are the ones who go first, who find the way, who fix the ropes and ladders, who carry crazy heavy oxygen balloons for themselves and clients, who step in first in the snow to make a trail, first to step on top of the world before their clients come and take all the space for their own flags and photos, the ones who take care of weak clients, old clients, wealthy clients, young clients, female clients, first-time climbers clients, dying clients, healthy clients, strong clients, Israeli or Indian or any nationality clients. Literally EVERY client. No exclusions. No expedition can happen without Sherpas.

First years after climbing Everest, it wasn’t even something significant for Padawa. No obvious evidence left like photos or certificates. Just mentions in company’s documentation or pics from his clients. No sports interest, no aim to be world-famous. It was only a job that fed him and his family.

Dave Mellor, a climber from the Bahamas, knows him since 1997: “Climbing with Padawa since 1997…. Sitting alone in Ama Dablam Camp 1 and this young kid arrived telling me that Kami had sent him to "look after the old man and make sure he didn't fall off the mountain"... He was great then and just got better over the past 22 years”.

The mountains they shared are Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Lobuche. Cholatse, Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Manaslu, Shishapangma, etc. He describes him as “a very experienced, super strong, natural mountaineer who has been a guide on many 8,000 m mountains including K2 and solely responsible for saving numerous lives in extremely difficult and dangerous situations which he never really received any credit for . . . But the people who know him, including me can vouch for everyone.”

Pasang Dawa was one of the first to summit Everest in 2019 as part of the hazardous rope fixing team (we’ve all seen the photos of the traffic jam on Everest on 22 May) and then guided a client to the summit just a few days later. Which means he summited twice. Despite all of these achievements, he has never received the accolades and honors so richly deserved. Nobody heard about him abroad but this man is highly respected and known in the mountaineering world.

Meeting Padawa in Kathmandu

When I was going to meet Padawa in our office a month ago, I was extremely excited and expected to see a confident and strong man with temper and ambitions. Instead, I met a simple and humble man, breathing hard of the heat in Kathmandu. It is in some way hilarious to admit the fact that sherpas feel comfortable up there, in coldness on high altitude with thin air, and suffering down here from the sun and warmth. Shy and quiet, never talked about his achievements himself. I was the one to ask more and more.

No expensive shoes or brand clothes, simple phone and no idea how to use email. Favorite food is dal bhat and momos, favorite place on Earth is Dingboche (4,410 m), just up the valley from Pangboche, the village most published profiles give as his birthplace. The favorite mountain is Lobuche Peak, never been abroad, no sponsors, no high-end house. But! A huge heart, tough character, unbelievable experience and a power to lead people on the highest peak of our planet.

No one can beat his achievements. A rock, a machine, a hero, a father, a Nepali, a pride of the Himalayas.

31 times on Everest (as of May 2026), over 50 times to Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Mera Peak, Manaslu, Island Peak, Lobuche, Lhotse, and more.

An ordinary man with an extraordinary life!

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