"What moves me to climb is passion, not the desire to be first at something, but I am very grateful to become the first to climb both mountains the same year," said Perez, who has climbed five of the world's 12 highest peaks sans oxygen. Great Britain's Alison Hargreaves summited Everest and K2 in 1995, but died descending K2. The 36-year-old became the first woman to successfully climb both Everest and K2 in the same year and just the fourth to reach the summit of both mountains without oxygen. Perez then sat up and gleefully tapped a furled Ecuadorian flag twice against her shoulder. Perez, an Ecuador native who had climbed Everest two months earlier, walked into the waiting embrace of friend Pemba Gelje before dropping to her hands and knees to give thanks and savor one of her biggest dreams. Her boyfriend, Esteban Mena, recorded the moment. Perez, who chose to climb without using supplemental oxygen, flashed a smile while taking her final steps to the top. Weather atop K2 was unusually calm and clear in the early afternoon of July 24 as Carla Perez trudged through glistening snow in a final push to the summit of the world's second-highest peak.Īt 28,251 feet, K2 is less than 800 feet shorter than Mount Everest, but its harsher climate, steeper slopes and greater avalanche and rock fall danger make it a more difficult and dangerous climb. ![]() What's next for Carla Perez after reaching Earth's two highest peaks in two months? You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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