During the 2008 K2 Tragedy Pemba spent a total of 90 hours in the Death Zone, 70 of which were spent coordinating rescues.
Pemba had over 129 total ascents on various mountains as of 2016
Pemba Gyalje Sherpa was named the 2008 National Geographic Adventure Adventurer of the Year, for "extreme heroism under trying extreme circumstances"
After his accent on Everest in 2003, the Irish Mountaineer, Gerard McDonnell later invited Pemba to climb K2 for the first time, as a member of the team. The 2008 climb would be Pemba's first up the Savage Mountain, K2.
During the course of a descent Pemba suddenly fell into a crevasse before reaching camp one on 13th July, 2018. Other Sherpas including his brother Pashang have tried to rescue him throughout the day but failed to trace him.