Indian climber Anshu Jamsenpa has made the fastest double ascent of Mount Everest, becoming the first woman in the world to reach the highest point on earth twice in five days.
The 38-year-old mother of two climbed the peak along the Southeast Ridge route on May 16. She repeated the feat on May 21 improving a record set by a Nepali woman, Chhurim Sherpa, who made the dual climb in seven days in 2011.
“I always believe that, you know, you can do whatever you think, you know, you can achieve whatever is there in your mind. The only thing is that you have to be ready to face all the pains and all the obstacles – that was there in my mind and that’s how I like it,” said Jamsenpa.
“I got blisters on my legs. I was tired but then still I thought no, I must try, I must push. I had that confidence in me, if you try you can definitely get success.”
Both ascents will be certified by the government this week, officials have said.
Anshu, who like many people in her native Arunachal Pradesh state is called by her first name, also climbed the 8,850 metre (29,035 feet) summit twice in ten days in 2011. She climbed it again in 2013.
A motivational speaker and trainer in mountaineering, she said confidence in herself helped overcome fatigue and blisters on her feet to achieve the dual ascent.