Norwegian Woman & Nepali Guide Conquer 14 Tallest Peaks in Record Time

By: WE Staff | Friday, 28 July 2023

Mountaineer Kristin Harila from Norway and Tenjin Sherpa, commonly known as Lama, a Nepali guide, have scaled all 14 8,000-meter (26,000-foot) peaks in the shortest amount of time. On July 27, 2023, their team released a statement announcing the success.

Kristin and Lama completed their incredible journey in an astounding three months and one day after reaching the summit of Pakistan's K2, the last mountain on their itinerary. The team statement complimented their outstanding cooperation, unwavering commitment, and sheer tenacity throughout this massive effort.

Their success not only highlights their amazing climbing skills, but also the spirit of mountaineering camaraderie as they overcame borders and cultural differences to achieve success together.

The previous record was set in 2019 by British adventurer Nirmal Purja, a Nepalese-born man who finished the trip in six months and six days. The duo shattered that mark. It is noteworthy because Purja is presently aiming to break the previous record for climbing all 14 summits in the shortest amount of time without using oxygen.

Kristin overcome a number of challenges on route to achieving the record. She had to reach 12 peaks twice, including K2, due to difficulty obtaining permission from China to climb Shishapangma, which is wholly in Tibet, and Cho Oyu, which is generally climbed from the Chinese side.

Their achievement is all the more remarkable in light of the fact that only a small number of women have been able to scale the top 14 mountains in the world, out of the more than 40 people who have successfully achieved this demanding task.

Kristin had to go over a number of challenges in order to accomplish this incredible record. Despite her shown climbing prowess, she had problems securing sponsors and was had to sell her flat in order to raise money for her quest. When talking about the challenges women face in these undertakings, Kristin made the observation that the landscape of sponsorship is different for women compared to men.

Kristin didn't begin mountaineering until 2015. She is from Vadso, a village on the Barents Sea in the far north of Norway, where the tallest peak is just 633 metres (2,000 feet) high. She first committed herself to sports like football, handball, and cross-country skiing before her employers, a network of furniture stores, gave her the opportunity to win a trip to Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro. This journey led her to discover her love of climbing.

Lama, a seasoned guide from the age of 16, played a crucial role as Kristin’s travelling companion on this historic voyage. Because of his familiarity with and love for the mountains, he was able to traverse challenging terrain and survive harsh weather.

Pakistan, home to five of the world's fourteen "super peaks," is regarded as the prime place for climbers aspiring to accomplish this amazing achievement. Among these peaks, K2 distinguishes out due to its technical challenges and infamously unreliable weather, which have only allowed 425 people to successfully climb it since 1954, including about 20 women.

The accomplishment of Kristin and Lama in climbing all 14 peaks over 8,000 metres in a single attempt is a genuine testament to their unwavering dedication and passion of mountaineering, and it has inspired many individuals to set and accomplish their own lofty goals in the field of high-altitude climbing.