Youngest Female to Climb All 14 Highest Peaks Calls for Stricter Requirements for Mountaineers

Adriana Brownlee, the youngest female to conquer all 14 mountains over 26,247 feet high, has voiced concerns about the safety of inexperienced climbers on the world’s highest peaks, The Associated Press reports.

Brownlee, who achieved her feat at the age of 23, has witnessed firsthand the dangers posed by climbers lacking essential training and experience. She recently completed her climb of Mount Shishapangma in China, adding the final peak to her impressive list.

“I have seen many examples of people in the mountains that should not really be there, that should have more training beforehand,” Brownlee told The Associated Press in Kathmandu. “We have had to support them and help with basic things like how to put on crampons, how to put on a harness.”

She believes mountaineering authorities should implement stricter requirements, such as mandatory experience on smaller peaks, to ensure climbers attempting to scale the highest mountains have the necessary skills and can cope with the altitude.

Brownlee, whose mountaineering journey began at the age of 8, inspired by her father, is now focused on scaling unclimbed peaks in Nepal and exploring mountains around the world. She has co-founded a mountaineering company in Nepal, catering to skilled and experienced climbers.

She hopes to inspire other young people to chase their dreams, emphasizing the importance of pursuing individual goals without succumbing to societal expectations.

“For me the message is that in life … you can take any path you like to reach your goal,” she said. “That goal might be totally unique to you and it’s very important to keep at that and not to listen to the rest of society what they have to say.”