His Lifelong Goal Was to Summit Mount Everest. He Had to Sacrifice a Pinky to Reach It (Exclusive)

Man Sacrifices Pinky to Reach Summit of Mt. Everest

Nick Selby, a determined adventurer, recently achieved a longstanding dream of summiting Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. His journey was not without challenges, as he faced extreme dehydration and severe frostbite during the multi-week expedition. Despite losing half of his right pinky finger to frostbite, Selby remains resolute and content with his accomplishment. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Selby shared his remarkable story of perseverance and sacrifice.

Growing up in Central Illinois, Selby developed a passion for hiking from a young age. His early experiences in the mountains inspired him to set his sights on conquering Everest. After visiting Everest Base Camp in 2023, Selby realized that with proper training and mountaineering skills, his dream was within reach. Over the following two years, he dedicated himself to intense physical preparation, including rigorous workouts with weighted backpacks to build strength and endurance.

Prior to ascending Everest, Selby undertook expeditions to other challenging peaks as part of his training. Despite successfully summiting mountains like Aconcagua in Argentina and Manaslu in Nepal, Selby considered these climbs mere stepping stones towards his ultimate goal of conquering Everest. In 2025, he embarked on the daunting journey to the summit with a group of experienced trekkers, enduring arduous conditions and waiting for the optimal weather window to make the final ascent.

On May 15, after days of climbing, Selby and a portion of his group reached the summit of Mount Everest, a momentous achievement that fulfilled his lifelong ambition. However, the descent presented its own set of challenges, with Selby facing severe dehydration due to frozen water supplies and struggling with the effects of high altitude and frostbite. Despite these hardships, he persevered and made it back to base camp, where he was evacuated by helicopter for urgent medical treatment in Kathmandu.

Selby’s ordeal with frostbite resulted in the partial amputation of his right pinky finger, a sacrifice he willingly made to accomplish his Everest summit. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the recovery of his finger, Selby remains optimistic and grateful for the overall success of his expedition. His resilience and determination in the face of adversity have earned him admiration from supporters on social media, with his story and videos from the summit garnering widespread attention and engagement.

Looking ahead, Selby plans to focus on recovery and less strenuous hiking adventures, considering a hike up Mount Whitney in California as his next challenge. While fans and followers suggest other formidable peaks for him to conquer, Selby emphasises the importance of careful planning and determination in achieving such feats. He aims to inspire others, especially those from non-mountainous regions, to pursue their own aspirations and demonstrate that seemingly impossible goals, like summiting Mount Everest, can be attainable with dedication and perseverance.

Nick Selby’s remarkable journey serves as a compelling example of tenacity and passion in pursuit of one’s dreams. His inspiring story resonates with adventurers and enthusiasts worldwide, showcasing the indomitable human spirit and the triumph of the human will against all odds. Selby’s experience on Mount Everest is a testament to the power of perseverance and the unwavering commitment to reaching new heights, both literally and figuratively.