Female climber atop Mt. Annapurna without supplemental oxygen

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Apr. 15: Australian female mountaineer Allie Pepper has successfully climbed Mount Annapurna I, the 10th highest peak in the world, without supplemental oxygen. Pepper, along with her guides Mikel Sherpa and Nima Sherpa, reached the summit of Annapurna I at 12:07 pm on Sunday. 

Pepper started mountaineering with the goal of climbing 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in the world within two years. To date, she has successfully ascended three of these 8,000-metre peaks. She arrived in Kathmandu with her team on the first week of March to achieve her dream of reaching summits of the 14 peaks above 8,000 metres without oxygen.

She plans to climb Mt. Kanchenjunga and then Mt. Makalu next. She said, "I intend to climb the remaining mountains above 8,000 metres in the future and complete climbing all 14 peaks within a timeframe."

According to Mingma Sherpa, the chairman of Seven Summit Treks, Pepper's successful ascent of Annapurna I without oxygen was a significant achievement for a female mountaineer of her age. Climbing three of the 8,000-metre peaks without oxygen is highly commendable, he added.

She embarked on climbing all 14 peaks in the world above 8,000 metres without supplemental oxygen, starting with Mt. Cho Oyu in Tibet in 2007. Alongside this, 48-year-old Pepper informed that she aims to motivate women facing challenges to overcome their obstacles and be inspired to succeed. 

Before this, she had successfully climbed two of the 8,000-metre peaks without using supplemental oxygen. On July 15, 2023, she conquered the world's 12th highest peak, Broad Peak (8,052 metres), located on the border of Pakistan and China and on September 28, 2023, she achieved a successful ascent of Mt. Manaslu (8,163 metres) without using supplemental oxygen.

Sydney-based mountaineer Pepper became the first Australian woman to successfully climb the world's 12th highest peak, Broad Peak (8,052 metres), without supplemental oxygen on July 15, 2023. 

According to Pepper, her achievement was due to her climbing style and the confidence she had in achieving her goals within the set timeframe. Along with physical training, she made herself mentally, emotionally and spiritually strong to achieve her goals.

To date, only 14 individuals have climbed all 14 peaks in the world above 8,000 metres without supplemental oxygen. Among them, only two have reached the main summits of all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, and it took them 16 years to achieve this feat. Despite the successful climbs of 14 Himalayan peaks by 14 individuals worldwide, Pepper remains confident that her steps will lead her towards her goals.