CTSS Team

As the season wraps, teams are descending the mountain and making their way back to Kathmandu—right on cue, as warming weather and an increasingly unstable icefall mark the true arrival of spring in the Khumbu. We’re proud to share that across the Himalayas, we saw 58 successful Everest summits, 6 summits on Lhotse, 2 American records, and 1 world record—a season shaped by solid preparation, teamwork, and the kind of determination it takes to meet your best self at altitude.

Some of this season’s standout achievements include:

• Emma Schwerin (USA) became the youngest American woman to summit Everest at just 17 years, 2 months, and 24 days—and, in doing so, became the youngest woman in the world to complete the Seven Summits.

• Sam Schwerin (USA), Emma’s father, joined her on Everest and completed the Seven Summits alongside his daughter.

• Eva Steinwald (USA) became the oldest American woman to summit Everest at age 63. With Aconcagua (2023), Denali (2024), and now Everest (2025) under her belt, her mission to complete the Seven Summits by age 70 is well underway.

• Jocelyn Cayer (Canada) pulled off one of the season’s most ambitious feats: a Double Crown, with successful summits of Everest and Lhotse just 24 hours apart.

• Nick Symmonds (USA), a two-time Olympian, six-time U.S. national 800m champion, and the first person to break the 4-minute mile, traded his cleats for crampons and reached the summit of Everest.

• Pasang Dawa Sherpa (Nepal) is a CTSS and IFMGA guide who reached his 29th Everest summit this season, continuing a legendary career on the world’s highest peak.

• Pasang Tendi Sherpa (Nepal) is a CTSS and IFMGA-certified guide who now holds 18 successful Everest summits, leading with trademark calm and expertise.
• Pasang Chhiri Sherpa (Nepal) is a CTSS Guide who notched his 23rd Everest summit this season, bringing deep experience and steady leadership to the team.

• Ashish Gurung (Nepal) is a CTSS Guide who completed the rare Double Crown, successfully summiting both Everest and Lhotse in under 24 hours.

Before we wrap our season, we want to thank every climber, guide, Sherpa, and staff member who brought their all to this season. Your effort, kindness, and hard work made every summit possible and every challenge worth it. This year will be remembered not just for the milestones, but for the people behind them—including the youngest and oldest American women ever to summit Everest. Their achievements remind us that the mountain has something to offer at every stage of the journey.

Ready to write your own chapter in this story? Whether it’s Everest, Lhotse, or beyond, we’re here to help you train, prepare, and take that next step. Check out our blog: The Himalayas: Expeditions for Every Kind of Adventurer

When asked which mountains challenged her the most, Emma offered a thoughtful reflection:

Editor’s Note: Denali was the most physically demanding in part because Emma is just 4’11” and had to carry nearly her body weight in gear and food between her backpack and sled. To prepare, she pulled a tire around her high school campus and built up to 900 weighted squats in a single session. Her Denali guide, Jordan, was wildly impressed by Emma’s strength and skills, noting that he’s seen men twice her size struggle to carry the same load up the mountain.

She also had a clear message for other young people who may be eyeing the big mountains:

At the end of this blog, you will find youth-focused scholarship opportunities to help young people dream big, just like Emma.

Emma’s summit is more than a personal milestone—it’s a moment to celebrate all women in the big mountains. At CTSS, we know that historically, women—and especially young women—have been marginalized from the high-altitude world. Progress has been made, but there’s still a long way to go. Emma herself is passionate about breaking those barriers: she’s vocal about making space for women in male-dominated environments and believes time outside isn’t just powerful—it’s essential. Her Seven Summits journey is proof of what happens when those values meet action.

With Emma’s historic climb, we want to highlight a few other women who have paved the way, shattered expectations, and redefined what’s possible. When women are supported, seen, and safe in mountain spaces, they’re empowered to chase bold goals—and often, make history.

Big goals come with big emotions—and Emma Schwerin’s journey to the top of Everest is no exception. The summit was the final piece in a massive, multi-continent effort, and it can be all too easy to rush into the next challenge, to deflect the emotion with logistics or new plans. But real growth happens when we give ourselves room to reflect, to reconnect, and to appreciate the process—not just the result.

At CTSS, we believe the mountains should be within reach for more young people, especially those who haven’t historically seen themselves reflected in this space. That’s why we’re proud to share a growing list of scholarship opportunities and youth-focused programs designed to help the next generation access the outdoors, gain technical skills, and dream big—just like Emma.

Here are a few standout organizations offering scholarships to help young adventurers get outside, build skills, and even reach big mountains:

19th May Here is the latest from our teams:

We are thrilled to announce the successful Lhotse summits on May 19th for:

• Mr. Jocelyn Cayer (Canada)
• CTSS Guide: Ashish (Nepal)

Jocelyn and Ashish summited Everest on May 18th, and within 24 hours, they were on top of Lhotse. This is called a Double Crown, a feat that only a few mountaineers have achieved. Lhotse is the fourth-tallest mountain in the world, coming in at 8,516 meters (27,940 feet). This team has safely arrived at Camp 2 and will be dropping back to Everest Base Camp tomorrow.

A massive congratulations to Jocelyn and Ashish from all of us at CTSS!

19th May Everest Summits Congratulations to CTSS Staff;
GUIDE: Mr Edgar Parra (Ecuador)
GUIDE: Mr Jangbu Sherpa (Nepal)
Mr Milan (Jubin) Rai

Photo of the Lhotse summit team –>

After a successful summit on Everest, climber Varun R. and CTSS guide Thunang are at Camp 2 and will return to Base Camp tomorrow.

The Western Guided team, Ilknur C., Nicolas B., and CTSS guide Mike Bennett, safely arrived at Everest Base Camp along with private climber Eva Steinwald to celebrate

Today, we want to highlight Eva’s accomplishments. On May 18th, she became the oldest American woman to summit Mount Everest at the age of 63. With this historic climb, CTSS is incredibly proud to have supported the climbs for both Emma (the youngest American woman to summit Everest) and Eva (the oldest American woman to summit Everest) this season. These monumental climbs will certainly help inspire countless more women, young, old, and anywhere in between, to start dreaming big.

If Eva looks familiar, you’ve got a keen eye! She was one of our panelists on our Masters Mountaineering in March. We absolutely loved having her join us for the launch of our new Masters Mountaineering program. Eva started climbing in 2021, and now she is standing on the summit of the world’s tallest peak. For those of you reading this who are also over 50 and looking to start your journey – DO IT! Eva is showing us all that it can be done!

Eva is on a mission to climb the Seven Summits by age 70, and with this summit, she is well on her way, having completed:

• Aconcagua (2023)
• Denali (2024)
• Everest (2025)

Below is a photo of Eva and Guide Papshe enjoying Everest Base Camp after their successful summit. Plus, a few extra photos of Everest under a star-filled sky courtesy of CTSS Guides Nani S. and Tomi C. In addition, we’re sharing Eva’s story as heard during our Masters Mountaineering webinar. 

Evening of 17th May (Nepal local time)

7:30pm Leaving the South Col headed for the summit, we have:

• Bouka Family with cinematographers Rex P., Louis J., and Guides Tim Mosedale, Edgar Parra, and Migma Dorjee
• Western Guided team with climbers Ilknur C, Anna K, Nicolas B & Guides Mike Bennett and Sajjan Ghale
• Private climber Jocelyn C. with Guide Ashish
• Private climber Eva S. with Guide Papshe

There are no winds and a solid weather window, so the South Col is fairly busy tonight (this is a mix of climbers positioned for the summit and descending). Our team’s strategy is to move ahead of any crowds, efficiently and quickly on high-flow oxygen, to summit early in the morning at sunrise.

Summit day is always long and hard for families at home as we eagerly await news. Remember today, no news is good news. Guides are economical with radio use to ensure they manage battery life for emergencies, and GPS tracking devices can be unreliable in the cold. Stay busy today, and we’ll keep you updated as we hear from Nepal.

Cheers,
Caroline

Our 2nd team of climbers have positioned themselves for summit bids. They will be waiting patiently for the next low-wind window, which looks like it might be around May 18th.

Here’s who we have on the upper mountain:

Sleeping at Camp 3 on oxygen, we have:

• The Bouka family, alongside cinematographers Rex P. & Louis J., with Guides Edgar P., Tim M., Migma D., and Lam B.
• Climbers from our Western Guided team, including Ilknur C., Anna K., Nicolas B., and guides Mike B. and Sajjan G.
• Varun R. with guide Thunang
• Jocelyn C. and guide Ashish
• Eva S. and guide Pashe

Tomorrow morning, these climbers will move to South Col.

Below them at Camp 2 are Andrea G. and guide Robert J. Tomorrow, they plan to take a rest day before moving further up.

Our May 15th summiteers are all doing well! Half of them have arrived back at Everest Base Camp and celebrated their success before flying back to Kathmandu via helicopter. The others, Robert A., Sam S., Emma S., and Ardavan F. (our Lhotse summiteer), are still making their way back to Everest Base Camp and should arrive tomorrow.

Below is a video of the summit team on top of the world! While the summit winds were looking gusty, guide Nani reported that they were sheltered from the wind throughout their climb. Thank you, Nani, for sharing this video. In addition, we have a shot of Wells L. back at Everest Base Camp, celebrating his successes on the mountain.

Today is a historic day. It’s been 50 years since the first woman, Junko Tabei, summited Everest in 1975. Today, we are celebrating Junko and the historic achievements of our climber, Emma Schwerin. Yesterday, Emma became the youngest American woman to summit Everest and the youngest woman in the world to complete the Seven Summits. Emma was born on 2/20/2008. Below are two incredible summit shots, Emma on the left and Junko on the right. Photo of Emma courtesy of Tendi Sherpa.

With great delight, we are proud to announce the summits of:

Everest (30x members)

• Mr Wells Lange (USA)
• Mr Sam Schwerin (USA) – finishing the Seven Summits
• Ms Emma Schwerin (USA) – breaking the record as the youngest American woman to summit Everest, aged 17 years, 2 months, and 24 days. DOB: 2/20/2008 and finishing the Seven Summits
• CTSS Guide/IFMGA: Mr Pasang Tendi Sherpa (Nepal) – 18th Everest summit!

• Mr Nick Symmonds (USA)
• Mr Andrew Katz (USA)
• CTSS Guide: Mr Manuel (Nani) Stahringer (Argentina)

• Mr Michael Kirby (Canada)
• CTSS Guide/IFMGA: Mr Dorje Sherpa (Nepal)

• Mr Robert Alt (USA)
• CTSS Guide/IFMGA: Mr Pasang Dawa (PaDawa) Sherpa (Nepal) – 29th Everest summit!

• Mr Terence Sullivan (USA)
• CTSS Guide: Mr Dawa Jyabu Bhote (Nepal)
• Mr Pasang Chhiri Sherpa (Nepal) -23rd Everest summit!
• Mr Dawa Helmu (IFMGA – Nepal)
• Mr Manraj Gurung (IFMGA – Nepal)
• Mr Pasang Renze Sherpa (Nepal)
• Mr Dorje Sherpa (Nepal)
• Mr Thenjhum Bhote (Nepal)
• Mr Lakha Tamang (Nepal)
• Mr Tenji Sherpa (Nepal)
• Mr Lapka Renji Sherpa (Nepal)
• Mr Thenduwa Lama Bhote (Nepal)
• Mr Chhayan Jyabu Bhote (Nepal)
• Mr Milan Tamang (Nepal)
• Mr Ming Galjen Sherpa (Nepal)
• Mr Lapka Kaji Sherpa (Nepal)
• Mr Natara Sherpa (Nepal)
• Mr Singe Tamang (Nepal)
• Mr Chheten Bhote (Nepal)

Summiting Lhotse (3x members)

• Mr Ardavan Farmanfarmaian (British)
• CTSS Guide: Mr Lhakpa Nuru
• Mr Pimba Bhote (Nepal)

All members are safely back at the South Col, with Terry S., Michael K., Wells L., and Andrew K. already back at Camp 2.

Our first summit wave is underway. Climbers, guides, and Sherpa left South Col just after 7pm local time on May 14th.

The first wave consists of the following climbers:  

• Terry S. with guide Dawa Yolmo
• Robert A. with guide Pa Dawa
• Sam & Emma S. with guide Tendi Sherpa
• Michael K. with guide Dorjee
• Western Guided Team:  Andrew K., Wells L., Nick S., and Lauren H. with guides Nani and Abiral

With no crowds, these teams will climb through the night, aiming for an early summit window while winds are lower.

Below these climbers, sleeping at Camp 2, we have:

• Jocelyn C. and guide Ashish
• Alyssa L. and guide Phuunjo
• Varun R. and guide Thunang

They will look to move up to Camp 3 on May 15th or 16th.

The Bouka family, with cinematographers Rex P. and Louis J. and guides Edgar P., Tim M., Lam B., and Migma D., are at Camp 1 after successfully moving from Everest Base Camp. Alongside the Bouka’s are Western Guided Team climbers Anna K., Ilknur C., Nicolas B., and guides Mike B. and Sajjan G.; they will look to collectively move to Camp 2 tomorrow.

We have one final team leaving Everest Base Camp tonight, private climbers Andrea G. and guide Robert J., who will move to Camp 1.

Wondering what it feels like setting out (at night) for your Everest summit bid? Here are a few photos from CTSS staff photographer Griffin Kerwin of just that.

Summit bids are underway!

CTSS is on the move. Here’s the latest from Everest:

Our first wave of climbers pushed up from Camp 2 to Camp 3 today in great weather. They are currently sleeping on oxygen. They’ll move up to the South Col tomorrow morning and are currently looking at a summit bid for the morning of May 15th. Logistics, oxygen, and staff are in place. The teams are moving strongly and are fully focused on the task at hand.

At Camp 3, we have:

• Sam & Emma S. with guide Tendi
• Robert A. with guide Pa Dawa
• Michael K. with guide Dorjee
• Terry S. with guide Dawa
• Andrew K., Wells L., Nick S., Lauren H., with guides Nani and Abrial

And at Camp 2 tonight is Varun R. with guide Thunang.

Just below these teams, we have several climbers at Camp 1, including:

• Jocelyn C. with Guide Ashish
• Alyssa L. with Guide Phunjo
• Rick W. with Guide Dawa Jangbu
• Anna K. with Guide Sujjan G

For our second wave of climbers, they will begin heading towards Camp 1 this evening while eyeing a May 18th summit bid. This includes the following climbers:

• The Bouka team: Zouzar B., Rais B., Raj-Alexandre B., with guides Tim M., Edgar P., Migma Dorjee, Lam Babu, and cinematographers Rex P. and Louis J.
• Adam S. with guide Walt H.
• Ilknur C. and Nicolas B. with guide Mike B.
• Eva S. with guide Papshe

In case you didn’t catch it… It’s time to climb! Climbers, guides, and Sherpa–we are in your corner and excited to see you be safe and successful!

Below, we are sharing a birds-eye view of the route our teams are taking to the top of the world via the South Side of Mount Everest. Take a journey with us through the Khumbu icefall, up the Western CWM, the Lhotse Face to the South Col, and onto the summit!

We hope everyone had a great weekend. Happy Mother’s Day to all of our moms, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers out there!

Over the weekend, a few teams positioned themselves at Camp 2, ready to make their summit bid. We’ve been keeping an eagle eye on the wind forecasts. If the trend continues, some of our Western Guided Team climbers, including Andrew K., Lauren H., Wells L., and Nick S., will move to Camp 3 tomorrow. In addition, several of our private climbers, including Sam and Emma S., Robert A., Michael K., and Terry S., are also looking to move partway up the Lhotse face to Camp 3 tomorrow.

Private climber Varun R. and guide Thunang are at Camp 2 but will take a rest day or two as they look to make the most of the next weather window. Ardavan F., our Lhotse climber, and Anna K., one of our 40-day speed climbers, are also making moves. They are moving up to Camp 1 tonight and Camp 2 tomorrow.

The summit winds have been fickle, but forecasts have been downtrending. There is still plenty of time in the season. Meanwhile, life at Everest Base Camp is about resting, eating, and recuperating.

Here is a little peek at what the last few weeks have looked like for our summit climbers. Thank you to CTSS staff photographer Griffin Kerwin for capturing and sharing these shots with us.