Australian Mountaineer Allie Pepper aims to climb K2 without oxygen

Kathmandu – Australian mountaineer Allie Pepper is set to climb Mount K2, the world’s second-highest peak, without using supplemental oxygen. She has arrived in Pakistan to embark on this challenging expedition.

If successful, Pepper will have ten of the world’s 14 highest peaks left to climb. Currently, she has summited four of these formidable mountains.

Pepper and her guide, Mikel Sherpa, previously climbed Annapurna I and Makalu before summiting Mount Kosciuszko in Australia. Sherpa has already completed four of the seven highest peaks on each continent.

Following K2, Pepper plans to climb Gasherbrum I and II, also without supplemental oxygen, provided she secures sponsorships. Sherpa expressed confidence in Pepper’s ability to conquer K2, noting her successful ascent of three other 8,000-meter peaks.

Pepper has set an ambitious goal to climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks within two years. She began this journey in 2007 with a successful ascent of Mount Cho Oyu in Tibet without supplemental oxygen. Her determination aims to inspire women worldwide to overcome their own challenges.

In 2023, Pepper made history as the first Australian woman to summit Broad Peak (8,052 meters) on July 15 and Manaslu (8,163 meters) on September 28 without supplemental oxygen.

To date, only six climbers have summited all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen. Among them, only two have reached the main summits of all 14 peaks, a feat that took 16 years. Confident in her progress and support, Pepper believes she can achieve her goal.