Born in Thame, Solukhumbu District
Ang Rita Sherpa
Deceasedआङरिता शेर्पा
Also known as Snow Leopard
First person to summit Mount Everest ten times without supplemental oxygen; nicknamed the "Snow Leopard"
About
Ang Rita Sherpa grew up in Thame. As a boy, he took care of yaks. He did not go to school. He also had no formal training in mountaineering. At age 15, he joined an expedition as a porter.
He later climbed Mount Everest ten times. He did this between 1983 and 1996. He never used extra oxygen from a tank. This is still a world record. In 1987, he became the first person to climb Everest in winter without oxygen. No one else has matched this.
In 1996, several of his friends died in that year’s Everest disaster. This affected him deeply. He stopped climbing soon after. He spent his later years in Kathmandu.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1948-07-27
- Birthplace
- Thame, Solukhumbu District, Nepal
- Profession
- Mountaineer
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Deceased
- Died
- 2020-09-21
Career & life timeline
- 1948
- 1963
Began working as a porter on mountaineering expeditions at age 15
- 1983
Summited Mount Everest for the first time, without supplemental oxygen
- 1987-12-22
Became the first person to summit Everest in winter without supplemental oxygen
- 1996
Completed his tenth and final Everest summit, days after the 1996 Everest disaster
- 2020
Died in Kathmandu at age 72
Achievements
Most Everest summits without supplemental oxygen
Ten ascents between 1983 and 1996, a record that still stands
First winter ascent of Everest without supplemental oxygen
1987
Awards & honours
Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
Order of Tri Shakti Patta
Last updated: 2026-09-06