Lhakpa Sherpa, 48, has just completed her tenth ascent of Mount Everest, yet she has spent her entire life rising to and meeting obstacles.
Her brother stated that a Nepalese official confirmed her 10-time achievement, making her the first woman to do so. The single mother from Nepal was born in a cave, had no formal education, and worked as a janitor. She last ascended 8,848.86m (29,031.69ft) in 2018.
"I felt like I'd arrived at my dream when I first reached Everest's summit," she told the BBC before Thursday's climb. "I told myself, 'No more being a housewife!'"
"I felt like I had altered Sherpa culture and the status of Sherpa and Nepali women. I liked being outdoors of my house and wanted to share that pleasure with other women."
Lhakpa was named one of the BBC's 100 most inspirational and influential women in 2016.
Her brother Mingma Gelu Sherpa shared the news of her 10th summit, saying she arrived at 06:15 a.m. (00:30 GMT). Bhishma Kumar Bhattarai, a tourism administrator in Nepal, verified the allegation to Reuters.
Shiny, her youngest daughter, told the BBC from base camp that she was delighted and attentively tracking her mother's progress.
"I look up to my mother," she explained. "Despite having little, she has accomplished so much."
Lhakpa's hard work and accomplishments, however, have yet to transfer into money and fame.
She was born in a hamlet more than 4,000m (13,000ft) above sea level in eastern Nepal's Makalu area. She belongs to the Sherpa ethnic group, which is descended from nomadic Tibetans who are accustomed to living at extremely high altitudes.
"I was born in a cave," she exclaimed, laughing. "I don't even know what day I was born. My passport states that I am 48 years old." "I recall walking for hours, often carrying my siblings, to school, only to be turned away when I arrived. Girls were not allowed to attend school at the time."
Agriculture was the village's basis, as there was no power. It did, however, have a particular magical neighbour.
"I grew up very adjacent to Mount Everest," she explained. "It was visible from my house. Everest never ceases to inspire and fascinate me."
Since the first ascent of the mountain in 1953, an increasing number of climbers have attempted to conquer the top each year. Those who do so almost often employ Sherpa guides and porters. Some Sherpas, though, like Lhakpa, set out to become mountaineers in their own right.
It was a difficult shift. Lhakpa's parents did not support her.
"My mother told me I'd never married," she told the BBC. "She cautioned me that I was becoming too manly and unappealing. The locals warned me that it was a man's work and that if I did it, I would die."
She ignored her fears and reached Everest's highest ridge in 2000. She became the first woman to climb Everest three times in 2003, and additional milestones followed.
During her 2003 ascent, she was joined by her brother and sister, making her the first person to climb an 8,000-meter peak with three siblings. The achievement was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.