Record Attempt: Allie Pepper has her Eyes set on Annapurna I Summit by mid-April
Australian mountaineer Allie Pepper is aiming to accomplish a feat that took Edmund Viesturs (USA) and Veikka Gustafsson (Finland) more than a decade to achieve. Only 6 people worldwide have managed this incredible endurance challenge.
Allie Pepper is pursuing a new World Record by attempting to summit all 14 eight-thousand-meter peaks without supplementary oxygen within an impressive 2-year timeframe, and she seems to be on course to accomplish this goal. Allie Pepper and guide Mingtemba Sherpa reached Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) at 4,215m. They’ll rest there before climbing higher.
Sherpa mentions that they plan to acclimatize at camp-I and aim for the summit by mid-April. Pepper arrived in Kathmandu, planning to climb Annapurna-I, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga this spring.
“Having reached ABC today, we plan to rest here for two days. We are looking to summit Annapurna-I on April 14 or 15 if weather conditions remain fine,” he said.
Meanwhile Pepper said, “We are excited for the Annapurna expedition. We will be heading toward camp-I, camp-II, camp-III, camp-IV gradually to acclimate ourselves before going for the summit push.”
After Annapurna-I, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga, Pepper will climb Nanga Parbat & K2 in Pakistan. In Autumn, she plans to climb Mt. Shishapangma and Mt. Cho Oyu, then Gasherbrum-II, Gasherbrum-I, Dhaulagiri, Lhotse & Everest in 2025 with Seven Summit Treks, a top expedition company.
Before Annapurna base camp, Pepper trekked for 4 days to Langtang Valley with guide Mingtemba Sherpa to enhance filming skills and acclimatize. Pepper, the first Australian woman to summit Broad Peak (8,051m) on July 15, 2023, and Mt Manaslu (8,163m) on September 28, 2023, without supplemental oxygen, is preparing for the upcoming season.
Experienced in mountaineering, she began climbing 8000m peaks in 2007 by summiting Mt Cho Oyu without bottled oxygen. Now, at 48, Pepper seeks to inspire women globally to overcome their challenges and conquer their mountains.
