From summiting all 14 eight-thousanders to steering record-breaking expeditions, the Seven Summit Treks co-founder has become an architect of modern mountaineering KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 25 From a childhood in the remote Makalu region of Sankhuwasabha to the summits of the world's highest mountains, Chhang Dawa Sherpa has forged a life defined by altitude and achievement. Nepal Entrepreneurship Forum concludes, focusing on the development of the entrepreneur ecosystem Nepal's tourism strategy: Aiming for the sky, missing the pilgrim next door Born among Nepal's eastern peaks, he grew up with the Himalaya as both playground and calling. By 2014, he had become the youngest climber ever to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, a feat he achieved at just 30 years old. Along with his brother Mingma Sherpa, he holds the singular distinction of being the first pair of brothers to climb every one of the world's 8,000-meter giants-a record unmatched in mountaineering history. His personal summit list is both exhaustive and global. In Nepal, he stood atop Makalu (8,485 m) in 2001 and again in 2008; Lhotse (8,516 m) in 2002; Cho Oyu (8,188 m) in 2002; and Everest (8,848 m) three consecutive springs-2003, 2004, and 2005. He scaled Manaslu (8,163 m) in 2010, 2011, and 2020, and Annapurna I (8,091 m) in 2012 and again in 2024. His climbs also include Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) in 2012 and 2014 and Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) in 2011. Beyond Nepal he summited Broad Peak (8,047 m) in 2008, Nanga Parbat (8,125 m) in 2010, Gasherbrum I (8,080 m) twice in 2010 and 2011, Gasherbrum II (8,034 m) in 2011, K2 (8,611 m) in 2012, and Shishapangma (8,027 m) in 2013. His later adventures carried him to the continental Seven Summits and beyond: Mt. Elbrus (5,642 m) in 2018, Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in 2019, Aconcagua (6,961 m) in 2020, a South Pole ski traverse in 2021/22, Mt. Vinson (4,892 m) in 2022, and Mt. Denali (6,190 m) that same year. Such depth of personal achievement gave Chhang Dawa rare authority when he turned to guiding and managing expeditions. As co-founder, expedition manager, and board member of Seven Summit Treks (SST), he now oversees Nepal's largest high-altitude guiding company, recognized by the government as the nation's largest taxpayer in the trekking and expedition sector. His leadership has quietly shaped some of the boldest chapters in recent Himalayan history. He orchestrated Nirmal "Nims" Purja's 2019 "14 Peaks in 7 Months" project, helped achieve the first successful winter ascent of K2, managed Kristin Harila and Tenjen "Lama" Sherpa's 92-day speed record on all 14 eight-thousanders, and directed the dramatic rescue of Indian climber Anurag Maloo from a deep crevasse on Annapurna I. Even when others take center stage, his role is pivotal. Andrzej Bargiel's historic ski descent of Everest made global headlines, but behind the triumph was the quiet, pivotal role of Chhang Dawa, whose meticulous planning made the audacious attempt possible. The Nepali mountaineering officials put it simply: "Without Chhang Dawa, many of these ambitious projects would have remained just dreams." Safety remains his hallmark. Under his guidance, SST has partnered with RECCO®, the global leader in passive search-and-rescue technology, nearly a decade before Nepal mandated tracking chips for 6,000-meter expeditions in 2024. From 2025, every SST client carries two RECCO reflectors, and the company now operates five of the 13 RECCO detectors in Nepal, including a helicopter base in Kathmandu. SST also runs regular search-and-rescue trainings with the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association and Nepal Mountain Instructors Association, reinforcing a culture of preparedness that mirrors Dawa's own meticulous standards. This past spring season alone, SST managed 103 climbers on Everest, 40 on Kanchenjunga, 28 on Lhotse, 27 on Makalu, 28 on Annapurna, 8 on Dhaulagiri, and 20 on Ama Dablam, supported by more than 200 Sherpa guides and staff-an operation the company proudly calls its safest and most precise to date. For the global mountaineering community, Chhang Dawa Sherpa embodies the blend of personal achievement and capable leadership that defines Himalayan exploration today. Whether on a windswept summit or behind the radio at base camp, he remains the quiet architect of extraordinary success-turning ambition into reality and ensuring that the world's highest dreams are reached with safety and dignity.