On Friday morning, two foreign mountaineers successfully scaled Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth peak at 8,126m, making it the first major summit of the season.
Pakistan Alpine Club Secretary Karrar Haidri confirmed to Geo News that mountaineers Kristin Harila of Norway and Grace Tseng of Taiwan reached the summit around 11:00 this morning.
Both climbers were joined by members of the Nepalese team who had been part of the summit as climbers.
Kristin was accompanied by Pasdawa Sherpa, Dawa Ongju Sherpa and Chhiring Namgel Sherpa, while Grace Tseng was accompanied by Nima Gyalzen Sherpa and Ningma Tamang Dorje. Kristin is the fastest woman to scale Mount Everest and Lhotse in less than 12 hours in May.
Her goal is to become the first woman in history and the second person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders in just six months.
Only 44 people in history have climbed all 14 peaks, and by completing this challenge, Kristin would also be the first person from a Scandinavian country to complete it.
The 36-year-old hopes to match or surpass Nepalese adventurer Nirmal Purja and his 2019 record of meeting the feat in six months and six days. “I’m doing very well.
Good weather, 11.5 hours from Camp 4. I’m glad I managed the first summit in Pakistan,” Kristin said in a message before beginning the descent to base camp.
On the other hand, Grace Tseng, 29, is the first Taiwanese woman to climb Nanga Parbat.
She was previously the first woman in the world to climb Kanchenjunga in the fall season. She is also the youngest woman to climb Annapurna without oxygen at 29.
Nanga Parbat is its eighth peak over 8,000m as it aspires to climb the world’s 14 8,000m.
