A Norwegian woman and her Nepali guide on Thursday broke the record for the quickest ascent of all 14 8,000-meter (26,000-foot) mountains in the globe, according to a statement from their team.
After climbing Pakistan’s K2, the final peak on their journey, Kristin Harila and Tenjin Sherpa, also known as Lama, succeeded in achieving the feat in three months and one day.
According to the team statement, the record “reflects their unwavering determination, teamwork, and sheer tenacity throughout this monumental endeavor.”
The partnership between Harila and Lama “has exhibited the essence of mountaineering unity, transcending borders and cultures to achieve greatness together.”
The team broke the previous record of six months and six days set in 2019 by British explorer Nirmal Purja, who was born in Nepal.
Purja is currently attempting to ascend all 14 peaks in the shortest amount of time possible without using oxygen.
Since Shishapangma is entirely in Tibet, and Cho Oyu is often climbed from the Chinese side, Harila had delays in obtaining visas from China, forcing her to summit 12 of the mountains twice, including K2.
The top 14 mountains in the world have been climbed by more than 40 persons, mostly males.
Despite her shown climbing skills, 37-year-old Harila struggled to get sponsors last year, forcing her to sell her flat in order to fund her mission.
In a May interview with AFP, she said, “I think it would be much easier to do this project if I were a man.”
Being a woman in the world is simply different, and not just because of sponsorships.
Harila is a native of Vadso, a town in northernmost Norway on the Barents Sea with a maximum elevation of just 633 meters (2,000 feet).
She chose to focus on football, handball, and cross-country skiing instead than climbing from a young age.
She didn’t find her love until 2015, when she won a trip to Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro from her employers, a network of furniture stores.
Kristin traveled with Lama, a guide since she was 16 years old, on her record-breaking trip.
According to the team’s statement, “Lama’s invaluable expertise and profound connection with the mountains have been integral to their success in navigating hazardous terrains and facing challenging weather conditions.”
Five of the 14 “super peaks” in the world are located in Pakistan, and ascending them all is regarded as the pinnacle of mountaineering success.
K2 has only been scaled by 425 individuals since 1954, including about 20 women, and is infamous for having unpredictable weather. It is also far more technically challenging to climb than Everest.
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