close
Friday November 08, 2024

52-year-old female mountaineer scales K2

By Obaid Abrar Khan
August 17, 2017

Islamabad: American-British 52 year’s female mountaineer, Vanessa O'Brien, who recently scaled K2 on her third attempt, said the warmth and love she received in Pakistan was matchless.

While talking to media here in Islamabad Vanessa O'Brien said the, I love Pakistan's people more than its mountains. “I have found Pakistani people loving and caring,” she added.

She said the beautiful mountain which Pakistan has are nowhere in the world. I was a great experience to see beauty of the nature from the top of K2.  "I love Pakistan, its people and will like to travel again," Vanessa carried flags of both the US and Pakistan atop the mountain.  I would prefer to do something for Pakistan and its youth.

Vanessa O'Brien said there were so many opportunities in Pakistan, adding it needed support in various sectors and she would like to do something for this country. Vanessa, who had already ascended Mount Everest and other top peaks around the globe, said technically K2 was more difficult peak than Everest.

"Less than 400 people have climbed K2 and one out of five died while attempting to summit the mountain. As many as 7,600 people have scaled Everest. "As far as women, who have climbed K2, I'm officially the 20th to climb K2, just a speck compared to Everest's 489 women," she said.

Vanessa's K2 team was comprised climbers from China, Norway, Scotland, Pakistan and Nepal. She appreciated her team members saying, "I'm extremely proud of this team for their dedication, perseverance, bravery and commitment to reach the summit of K2 and to take additional risk.

"I believe one should set their sights high, announce their intentions, ask for help, learn from their mistakes, believe in guardian angels and not let others tell you it's over until you say it's over.

"Pivot outside your comfort zone, to try something new, knowing that you have safety net of accumulated knowledge, skills and experience that no one can take away from you," Vanessa O'Brien said.