Tale of a woman who has conquered the Mount Everest 10 times

Meet Lhakpa Sherpa—a woman of astonishing resilience who holds the world record for the most Mount Everest summits by any woman, having reached its peak a remarkable ten times. Yet, beyond her achievements lies a story of personal struggle and fear. While fearlessly scaling the world’s tallest mountain, Lhakpa was also facing a different kind of battle back home, where she says she endured years of domestic abuse from her husband.


Her story gained attention after Oscar-nominated British director Lucy Walker made a documentary recounting Lhakpa’s 10th ascent of Everest in 2022. Lhakpa grew up in a secluded Nepalese village, cut off from the evolving world and lacking support for her education. This absence of schooling left a significant gap in her life, as she still cannot read or write.


With ample time on her hands, Lhakpa began working as a porter on mountain expeditions—often as the only girl. Although she managed to escape the bonds of a traditional arranged marriage, she soon became pregnant after a brief relationship in Kathmandu. Her family did not accept her, leaving her to fend for herself.



During her climbing journey, Lhakpa Sherpa crossed paths with George Dijmărescu, a Romanian-US mountaineer and home renovation contractor. George had dramatically escaped from Romania under the rule of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu by swimming across the Danube River. By the time he and Lhakpa married in 2002, George had already built a new life in the U.S. The couple settled in Connecticut, where they started their family and welcomed two children, Sunny and Shiny.



Life was good for a few years, but soon George showed his true colors. In 2004, during one of their Everest expeditions, George reportedly yelled at and punched Lhakpa, leaving her unconscious. The incident had a huge impact on her—she almost wanted to give up on life but somehow found the strength to continue, for her children’s sake. Despite the 2004 incident, Sherpa remained in the relationship, attempting to make it work. Eventually, realizing he wouldn’t change, she moved to a women's refuge with her daughters. Her husband received a six-month suspended sentence and a year of probation following a conviction for breach of the peace.


In an interview with the BBC, Sherpa expressed that she has much trauma, which is difficult to release. However, climbing mountains has been a significant part of her healing process. She ascended Everest for the 10th time successfully in 2022.