Denali 2023

On June 6th 2023, for the second year in a row, Climb Against Cancer and the US Nepal Friendship Team will work on summiting the highest point in North America, Mt. Denali, standing at 6,190 meters or 20,310 feet above sea level and located in Alaska, USA🇺🇸. 

This climb is in celebration of the diamond jubilee of Jim Whittaker’s successful summit of Mt Everest. Jim Whittaker scaled Mt Everest on May 1, 1963, becoming the first American to stand atop the world’s highest peak. Jim achieved the feat with the guidance of the Sherpa community, demonstrating the length and depth of the people-to-people relationship between Nepal and the US.

While the objective of the Denali expedition is commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the American Successful Expedition to Mt. Everest, its other goal is to promote sustainable mountaineering practices, learn eco-expedition techniques from the US Parks Service of Denali National Park, and strengthen the bond between the two nations through mountaineering.

This expedition also serves the purpose of climbing to support those diagnosed with cancer by raising donations for the Cancer Community South Bay. This will be Climb Against Cancer’s 5th year and 4th campaign on Denali.

History: On June 8th 2022, the 1st “US-Nepal Friendship Team” successfully summited Denali  with 7 of the world’s finest mountaineers (4 World Record Holders and 6 National Record Holders). The 2-3 week climb was completed in 3 days!

Special thank you to 2022 Team Leader Karma Tenzing, and Garrett Wilkerson, the Chief of the Public Affairs in the US Embassy and for helping make this much needed dream to turn into reality. Also to his team, Sarah Knight, and the entire US Embassy staff in helping guide our team through the visa process. It was decades upon decades in the making.

Here are the members of the 2023 US Nepal Friendship Team:

Mark Parella (Expedition Leader)

Mark Parella is a US Navy veteran residing in Denver Colorado. Founder of Climb Against Cancer in 2016. This will be his 4th expedition to Denali. Other notable summits include Aconcagua, Everest, Ama Dablam. His goal is to improve the  diplomacy between the United States and Nepal though mountaineering. 

Pasang Phurba Sherpa (Expedition Leader)

Pasang Phurba Sherpa is a member of the Board of Directors at Seven Summit Treks and a dedicated climber who has already accomplished the feat of climbing Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, Elbrus, and Kilimanjaro. He is currently on his way to completing the “Seven Summits,” which involves climbing the highest peak on each of the seven different continents. He has been leading the Base camp as an expedition Manager in different Expeditions organized by seven summit treks since its establishment.

Thaneswar Guragai (Expedition Manager)

Thaneswar Guragai is a multiple Guinness World Record holder in different categories. He is an official consultant at Guinness World Records. Since 2015, He has maintained a record of mountaineers that have successfully reached the summit of Everest, as well as other peaks above 8000m (26,246 Ft)2022, Thaneswar successfully climbed Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, further solidifying his reputation as an enthusiast in the field of mountaineering.

General Manager / Climber: at Seven Summit Treks Pvt Ltd. He was also the expedition manager of our team “US-Nepal Friendship Team” in 2022.

Tiffany Lin

Tiffany is a Taiwanese-American adventure blogger born and raised in Southern California. She first learned ice climbing in 2021 and was hooked to learning alpinism despite her fear of heights and always running cold. Her preference of climbing has typically been technical routes with just a single partner — she climbed her first 6,000 m peak, Cholatse 6,423 m, in 2022 with a small and nibble team of three, and this will be her first full size expedition. Her goal is to inspire women that it’s never too late to start getting outside and anything is possible.

Lakpa Dendi Sherpa

Lakpa Dendi Sherpa is a renowned mountaineer and a Guinness World Record holder. He has achieved several remarkable feats in the field of mountaineering, including being the fastest person to climb Mount Everest three times in 10 days 18 hours 30 minutes and the fastest to climb both Everest and K2 in 59 days. Lakpa Dendi Sherpa is now on a mission to complete all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 meters, a feat that only a handful of people have accomplished. His incredible achievements and dedication to his craft have made him an inspiration to many in the mountaineering community.

Climbing Guide at Seven Summit Treks Pvt

Guinness World Record Holder

Mingma Tenzi Sherpa

Mingma Tenzi Sherpa is a veteran climber and is on verge of 14 peaks. Mingma Tenzi’s wealth of practical experience is backed up by paperwork, with advanced mountaineering and rescue qualifications from the internationally recognized Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and the Nepal Mountaineering Instructors Association. Mingma Tenzi has an impeccable safety record when operating in the world’s highest mountains, and has a wealth of experience in both the Nepalese Himalayas and the Pakistani Karakorum. He is one of the Sherpa who climbed Mt. K2 in Winter.

Guinness World Record Holder

Tsering Pemba Sherpa

Tsering Pemba Sherpa is a renowned mountain guide who has scaled numerous towering peaks, including multiple 8000m peaks, several 7000m peaks, and numerous 6000m peaks. With over 15 years of experience in the mountaineering industry, Tsering Pemba Sherpa is a certified International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) guide. He is known for his exceptional mountaineering skills, professionalism, and dedication to ensuring his clients’ safety while on expeditions. His expertise and experience have made him one of the most sought- after guides for mountaineering expeditions in Nepal and around the world.

Pemba Nuru Sherpa

Pemba Nuru Sherpa is an accomplished climbing guide with extensive experience in mountaineering. He has successfully climbed Mount Everest multiple times, in addition to numerous other peaks in the Himalayas, including Lhotse, Manaslu, and Cho Oyu. With over 20 years of experience in the mountaineering industry, Pemba Nuru Sherpa is recognized as one of the most skilled and reliable guides in the field. He is known for his expertise in high-altitude mountaineering, as well as his commitment to ensuring his clients’ safety and success on expeditions.

 Pasang Gelu Sherpa

Pasang Gelu Sherpa is a highly experienced climbing guide and mountaineer who has achieved multiple summits of Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world. He hails from the Solukhumbu district of Nepal and began his mountaineering career as a support climber, gradually working his way up to become a climbing guide. With his expertise and knowledge of the mountains, Pasang Gelu has guided numerous clients to the summits of various peaks in the Himalayas, including Mt Everest.

Gelje Sherpa

Gelje Sherpa is a highly skilled climbing guide and mountaineer from the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. Gelje Sherpa is a highly skilled climbing guide and mountaineer who is currently on a mission to climb all 14 peaks above 8000 meters. Gelje Sherpa began his career as a porter and worked his way up to become a climbing guide, sharing his expertise and knowledge of the mountains with clients from around the world. He has successfully guided numerous clients to the summits of various peaks in the Himalayas, including Mount Everest. He is one of the Sherpa who climbed Mt. K2 in Winter.

Guinness World Record Holder