At 23, Adriana Brownlee accomplished a major feat in the world of mountaineering by becoming the youngest woman to climb all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, reports The Times. She reached the summit of her latest challenge, Shishapangma in Tibet, without supplemental oxygen, making this climb even more demanding. She thus becomes the second Briton to complete this prestigious list, after Alan Hinkes in 2005.
Climbing Shishapangma, which was the last of the peaks to be climbed, was a particularly emotional moment for Adriana Brownlee. “It was the most incredible moment. I cried remembering that I had just climbed the fourteen 8,000 meter peaks and made history,” she told the daily after her success. The young climber, who is currently resting in Tibet, took on this challenge three years after climbing Everest for the first time.
A dream since the age of 8
Adriana Brownlee, who grew up in southwest London and studied at the University of Bath, already had a mountain dream from childhood. At the age of 8, she wrote in a school assignment. “I would like to be famous for climbing the highest mountain in the world…and be one of the youngest girls to do it.” » She knew it would require intensive training and rigorous preparation.
Throughout his expeditions, Brownlee has overcome the challenges of some of the world’s most formidable mountains, including K2 in Pakistan, often considered one of the most dangerous peaks. In 2022, she reached the summit of K2, becoming the youngest woman to conquer it.
Praised by his peers
His success was praised by Alan Hinkes, the first Briton to climb all 14 8,000 meter peaks. “I have been following Adriana’s determined progress since we first met in 2021. It is great news to hear that another Brit has climbed all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters,” he said . He also highlighted how quickly she accomplished this feat: “To climb all these mountains in less than four years is a remarkable feat. It took me seventeen years. »
Alan Hinkes also recalled the difficulty of this objective. “None of these giant mountains are easy or safe, and she showed great determination, while enduring much pain and risk to complete the ascent of all the 8,000 meter peaks. My sincere congratulations on this exceptional achievement. »