Kanchenjunga

Day 1

Basecamp

We arrived at the majestic Kanchenjunga on April 21st, landing directly at base camp, perched at an impressive altitude of just under 18,000 feet. Despite our team’s recent accomplishment of summiting Dhaulagiri on [insert date], we were all met with the unwelcome onset of headaches, a testament to the dramatic elevation change. In preparation, I had been trekking in the stunning Gokyo region, striving to maintain my acclimatization while soaking in the breathtaking landscapes of Nepal.

Me, Small Pasang (from Annapurna) and Chris Warner and I waiting in the Kathmandu domestic airport for our flight towards Kanchenjunga.

Chirring Sherpa helping our cooks prepare dinner at Kanchenjunga base camp.

At base camp, we were joined by Sirbaz and Saad, who had already spent nearly a month on Kanchenjunga, assisting the Sherpas with route fixing and load carrying. Sirbaz aimed to summit without supplemental oxygen as part of his ambitious Mission 14 project.

This camp felt extraordinarily remote, like an eagle’s nest clinging to the mountainside—stunningly beautiful but seemingly inhospitable to human life. The day after our arrival, we held a puja ceremony to seek blessings for our climb, setting the stage for our ascent which commenced the following day.

Sunset from our basecamp on Kanchenjunga.

Support Ascend Leadership Through Athletics

I am raising money for Ascend. After years of climbing some of the world’s highest peaks, I believe it’s crucial to support the communities living in the shadows of these mountains. During my travels and climbs in Pakistan in the summer of 2023, I was disheartened by the lack of Pakistani mountain guides, particularly women. Observing this situation ignited a heartfelt desire within me to empower young women in these areas. That’s why I’m teaming up with Ascend Athletics.

Ascend Athletics is an international nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women through mountaineering-based leadership training and community service. Their mission deeply resonates with my own dedication to fostering female strength and resilience.

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