12-year-old Goa girl scales three 6km peaks in 62.5 hours, sets new record

In a world that often underestimates the capabilities of the young, 12-year-old Gunjan Pankaj Prabhu Narvekar from Goa has shattered all expectations and set a remarkable global record. With sheer determination and courage, Gunjan has achieved what many could only dream of – successfully summiting three challenging peaks in the Markha Valley, Ladakh, in an astounding 62.5 hours. Her extraordinary accomplishment has not only left seasoned mountaineers in awe but has also sparked inspiration among people of all ages.

An unprecedented feat

Gunjan's triumphant journey began on July 14, as she embarked on her mission to conquer the formidable Mount Kang Yatse-II (6,250m) and the two peaks of Mount Reponi Mallari-I (6,097m) and Mount Reponi Mallari-II (6,113m). Despite facing adverse weather conditions and heavy snowfall, this young mountaineer persisted with unwavering determination and resilience.

Speaking about her feat, Gunjan said, "Today I have broken the record which was set by a 13-year-old boy in Hyderabad for completing two 6,000 metre peaks in 72 hours. I broke the record by completing three 6,000-metre peaks in 62.5 hours. I am feeling quite happy now."

"We began the track on July 14 and reached Kang Yatse base camp on July 15. We took half on July 16 due to bad weather. On July 17, at 11 pm we begin the summit push. At 8:30 we sumitted Kang Yatse... We reached base camp at 1.30 pm. We took another half on July 19 because of bad weather and heavy snowfall. On July 20, we begin the summit push for Reponi Mallari 1 and 2," she said.

The new record holder further explained the difficulty of climbing these mountains. "The weather was bad. We did not anticipate that it would be snow this month. Because of the snow, it was more difficult. The snow was at knee and hip length," she said. The 12-year-old has already climbed Mount Everest base camp which is over 5,350 metres in height, in December 2022.

The mountaineer further explained her training. "Three times a day for 90 minutes, I walk at the speed of 5km per hour. I keep the elevation at 12 degrees to get the experience. I also carry a load of 10kg in my backpack. My father brings atta (flour) and puts that in the bag. For cold endurance, I have to sit in bathtub in a cold water with ice cubes. For oxygen, I use the mask to get a low oxygen effect."

Behind every young achiever lies the support of their loved ones. Gunjan's parents played a crucial role in nurturing her dreams and encouraging her to pursue her passion fearlessly. Her mother's words, "All parents should support their children in whatever field they want to flourish," resonate deeply, highlighting the importance of nurturing and empowering the aspirations of the younger generation. "I am very happy. She has taken a lot of effort for this. Happy to see her achieve these feats. She also has the record in India of becoming the youngest female to climb the Chaddar trek," her mother said.