Pemba Dorje Sherpa
Nepal
Nepali Sherpa Pemba Dorje summited Mount Everest from Base Camp (5,364 m) to the peak (8,849 m) in 8 hours and 10 minutes on May 21, 2004. Climbing roughly 3,500 meters of elevation in eight hours demonstrates extraordinary cardiovascular fitness and altitude acclimatization. A typical climber takes four to five days to cover the same stretch. Research suggests that the Sherpa people, having lived at high altitude for millennia, possess genetic adaptations that improve oxygen efficiency.