A Norwegian woman and her Nepali guide established the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre (26,000-foot) mountains on Thursday, according to their team. Kristin Harila and Tenjin Sherpa, known as Lama, performed the feat in three months and one day after reaching the summit of Pakistan’s K2, the final peak on their journey. According to the team statement, the record highlights “their unwavering determination, teamwork, and sheer tenacity throughout this monumental endeavour.”
Super Peaks: The top 14 mountains in the world have been climbed by more than 40 people, mostly males
“Harila and Lama’s collaboration has showcased 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. Puja 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. Despite her shown climbing skills, 37-year-old Harila struggled to get sponsors last year, forcing her to sell her flat to fund her mission. The top 14 mountains in the world have been climbed by more than 40 people, mostly males.
“I think to do this project if I was a man would be much easier,” she told AFP in an interview in May. “It is just different to be a woman in the world, not just with the sponsorships.” Harila is from Vadso, on the Barents Sea in Norway’s far north, where the highest point is only 633 meters (2,000 feet). She did not start climbing at a young age, instead focusing on football, handball, and cross-country skiing. She discovered her enthusiasm only in 2015 when she won a trip to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania from her employer, a furniture store business. Lama, Kristin’s companion throughout her record-breaking expedition, has been a guide since the age of 16.
K2 is infamous for its unpredictable weather and has only been conquered by 425 individuals since 1954, including around 20 women
“Lama’s invaluable expertise and profound connection with the mountains have been integral to their success in navigating treacherous terrains and facing harsh weather conditions,” the team’s statement said. Pakistan is home to five of the world’s 14 “super peaks”, and climbing them all is considered the ultimate achievement of any mountaineer. Aside from being significantly more technically challenging to climb than Everest, K2 is infamous for its unpredictable weather and has only been conquered by 425 individuals since 1954, including around 20 women.
