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When other children her age were engrossed in toys, Kamya Karthikeyan discovered her passion for hiking. At just 16, she became the youngest Indian and the second youngest girl in the world to climb Mount Everest from the Nepal side. “It feels amazing. It hasn’t crossed my mind yet, but it was a dream my father and I had for a long time,” she says. Accompanied by her father, Indian Navy Commander S Karthikeyan, the trip was “special” for the Mumbai girl. “He is my role model and climbing partner,” says Kamya.
‘The temperature was around -25 degrees Celsius and we felt the heat from the wind’
The decision to climb Everest was taken in 2017, when Kamya accompanied her mother to the Everest base camp. She says, “I have always been mesmerized by mountains. Standing there, looking at the beautiful snow and ice all around and the challenging journey ahead, I realized that Everest was a dream I had to fulfill.”
In April, the two began their two-month journey, but it was no easy task. They had to trek for eight hours a day at 8,000 feet above sea level and climb through the Khumbu Icefall, which was mainly done to overcome fear as it is a tricky place with sudden cracks or holes where you can fall. “I was nervous. We had to adapt to the weather as the temperature was around -25 degrees Celsius. Snow was constantly falling on us and the wind was burning our faces. It was also difficult not having anyone of my age to talk to,” she says.
Reaching the summit “was an experience I will never forget.” “I spoke to my father [who was an hour behind] and to my mother over the radio. They were so happy. I was thrilled. After two long months, we finally met on May 20 at the top of Sagarmatha (the Nepali name for Everest),” she smiles.
Next up? Mount Vinson, Antarctica
But she is not going to stop and plans to climb Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, in December. “This is the last challenge for me to complete the seven summits. I have started training as mountaineering requires constant hard work,” she says. For now, she plans to have a few cheat meals of “chicken tandoori and ice cream”.
Kamya’s snowy missions so far
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa – October
Mount Elbrus, Europe – June 2018
Mount Kosciusko, Australia – October 2018
Mount Aconcagua, South America – February
Mount Denali, North America – June 2022
Mount Everest – May 2024
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