Dawa Yangzum Sherpa is one of the most accomplished mountaineers in the world.

Dawa is from the Rolwaling Valley in Nepal. She started working as a trekking guide in 2008 and began climbing in 2009.

In 2014 she became one of the first Nepali women (along with Pasang Lhamu Sherpa and Maya Sherpa) to top 28,251 K2, and in March of 2019, she became the first Nepali athlete to be sponsored by The North Face. In May, 2019, she became the first Nepali woman to summit Makalu, and she's the first woman to be certified as an International Federation of Mountain Guides (IFMGA) guide. 

She made first ascents on 20,538 foot Chekigo in 2011 and 20,856 foot Langdung in 2017, as well as summiting Everest, Denali, and Aconcagua. She's also summited Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Cho-Oyu  and has worked as a climbing ranger on Mt. Rainier and now guides Rainier for Alpine Ascents International. 

Dawa has also been a frequent competitor in ultra marathons including the 350 km Everest Sky Race and the Annapurna Mandala Trail. She is also a senior instructor at the Khumbu Climbing Center in Phortse Nepal. 

We're honored to have such an accomplished person on our Advisory Board, and her close ties to remote rural Nepal will provide invaluable insight.