British climber Adriana Brownlee stood atop Mount Lhotse (8,516m) on Sunday, her sixth summit of 8,000m peaks in the Himalayas, her expedition organizer said
“She will attempt to summit Makalu within this week,” said Tashi Lhakpa Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks.
The 21-year-old mountaineer is hoping to become the youngest person to reach all 14 summits above 8000m. The record is held by Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, who summited 14 8000ers at the age of 30 years.
This is her third peak in the season. Adriana started off with the summit of Mount Annapurna (8,091m), 10th highest mountain in the world, on April 28. Annapurna is considered a hazardous and technically challenging peak with about 30 % mortality rate.
On May 14, she successfully summited Mount Kanchenjunga (8,586m), third highest mountain of the world.
Nepali climbing guide Gelje Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks has been accompanying her on all three peaks. Gelje was one the key persons in Nirmal Purja aka Nimsdai’s 14 peaks project. Last year, Gelje was part of the team to make the first winter ascent of K2.
Adriana’s attempt to summit Lhotse was called off due to the potential risk of avalanches after the impact of Cyclone YASS last year. She summited Everest, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Manaslu (8,163m).