Vanessa O'Brien becomes the First American woman to summit K-2 mountain

[Reichsmarschall]

• July 30, 2017
• Written by News Desk
• Published in Sports

Vanessa O'Brien Becomes First American Woman To Scale Treacherous K2


Vanessa O'Brien, a 52-year-old ex-Morgan Stanley banker from New York, on Friday afternoon, July 28, became the first American woman to summit K2, the world's second highest mountain at 28,251 feet. K2 is also considered one of the world's most dangerous peaks.

Vanessa O'Brien is the first American woman to summit K2

This was O'Brien's third attempt at the "killer" mountain, having been unsuccessful in 2015 and 2016 because of horrific weather. No teams summited in those two years.

This year, weather was a factor again as O'Brien's was the only expedition to reach the top - heavy snowfall and unstable weather sent the bigger teams back, including Russell Brice's revered Himalayan Experience (HIMEX).

At press time, O'Brien and her smallish Day Dreamers team led by Mingma Gyalje Sherpa were making their perilous way down the mountain from Camp 4, perched just above 25,000 feet. It reportedly had taken the group 16 hours from Camp 4 to the top, a very long time, but the weather had held.

In addition to O'Brien, an Explorers Club member, 11 other persons summited. Among the clients were John Snorri Sigurjonsson, the first Icelander to climb K2, and three Chinese climbers - Zhang Liang, Jing Xue and Mr. Azong. The seven Sherpas who topped out were Mingma Gyalje, Dawa Gyalje Sherpa, Tsering Pemba Sherpa, Nima Nuru Sherpa, Lakpa Nuru Sherpa, Nima Tshering Sherpa and Ang Tsering Sherpa.

O'Brien climbed Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak at 29,035 feet, in 2010 en route to becoming the then-fastest woman to climb the Seven Summits - highest mountain on each continent - plus ski the last degree to the North and South Poles, doing all in just 11 months.

"It is said when you climb Everest, you are a mountaineer in the eyes of the world, but when you climb K2 you are a mountaineer in the eyes of other climbers," said O'Brien before her climb. "K2 fascinates me because while it is not quite as high as Everest, it is technically more challenging with exposed rock, steeper terrain and higher avalanche risk.

https://twitter.com/x/status/891597893651628032

https://twitter.com/x/status/891594278866223104

https://twitter.com/x/status/891571842208727040

 

[Vapnope]

Some of her tweets are going to give itch to some people though
Congratulations on such feat

 

[Devil Soul]

Pakistan showed me so much love, support: 1st US woman to summit K2

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Vanessa O'Brien @vobonline
One most important flags I carried to the top of #K2 was #Pakistan, a country that has showed me so much love & support #PakistanZindabad

12:40 PM - Jul 30, 2017

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On her twitter handle, O’ Brian shared a picture holding Pakistani flag on summit of K2 and lauded support she got from Pakistan.

In another tweet she further wrote about ‘forever friendship, peace and tranquility between US and Pakistan’.



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Vanessa O'Brien @vobonline
Friendship, Peace and Solidarity - Forever #Pakistan #USA on the top of #K2

12:54 PM - Jul 30, 2017

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According to Forbes, this was O'Brien's third attempt at the "killer" mountain, having been unsuccessful in 2015 and 2016 because of horrific weather. No teams summited in those two years.

This year, weather was a factor again as O'Brien's was the only expedition to reach the top - heavy snowfall and unstable weather sent the bigger teams back, including Russell Brice's revered Himalayan Experience (HIMEX).

At press time, O'Brien and her smallish Day Dreamers team led by Mingma Gyalje Sherpa were making their perilous way down the mountain from Camp 4, perched just above 25,000 feet. It reportedly had taken the group 16 hours from Camp 4 to the top, a very long time, but the weather had held.

In addition to O'Brien, an Explorers Club member, 11 other persons summited. Among the clients were John Snorri Sigurjonsson, the first Icelander to climb K2, and three Chinese climbers - Zhang Liang, Jing Xue and Mr. Azong. The seven Sherpas who topped out were Mingma Gyalje, Dawa Gyalje Sherpa, Tsering Pemba Sherpa, Nima Nuru Sherpa, Lakpa Nuru Sherpa, Nima Tshering Sherpa and Ang Tsering Sherpa.

O'Brien climbed Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak at 29,035 feet, in 2010 en route to becoming the then-fastest woman to climb the Seven Summits - highest mountain on each continent - plus ski the last degree to the North and South Poles, doing all in just 11 months.

"It is said when you climb Everest, you are a mountaineer in the eyes of the world, but when you climb K2 you are a mountaineer in the eyes of other climbers," said O'Brien before her climb. "K2 fascinates me because while it is not quite as high as Everest, it is technically more challenging with exposed rock, steeper terrain and higher avalanche risk."

 

[Ajaxpaul]

K2 is supposed to be the most difficult to climb no ?

 

[El Sidd]

Take her to Multan and let her speak for motivational purposes.

That Panchayat still haunts me

 

[Reichsmarschall]

Take her to Multan and let her speak for motivational purposes.

That Panchayat still haunts me

Sir PDP should have a Youtube channel to promote Positive image of Pakistan

 

[El Sidd]

Sir PDP should have a Youtube channel to promote Positive image of Pakistan

I floated this idea along too.

Its cheap. Easily accessible. And easy to maintain.

We need volunteers for this and it can serve as a project for university students who are doing software or media related studies.

I saw a news channel interview of some girl who is a gold medalist in mass communication and is struggling because of no pawwa.

The channel if it catches on can help her in her career and proceeds from the channel will go to charity.

@PakSword bhai himmat krlen

 

[Reichsmarschall]

K2 is supposed to be the most difficult to climb no ?

i think Nanga Parbat is most difficult to climb it is also known as Killer Mountain

I floated this idea along too.

Its cheap. Easily accessible. And easy to maintain.

We need volunteers for this and it can serve as a project for university students who are doing software or media related studies.

I saw a news channel interview of some girl who is a gold medalist in mass communication and is struggling because of no pawwa.

The channel if it catches on can help her in her career and proceeds from the channel will go to charity.

@PakSword bhai himmat krlen

kch karain sir ab

 

[El Sidd]

i think Nanga Parbat is most difficult to climb it is also known as Killer Mountain
View attachment 415193


kch karain sir ab

Inshallah kuch krenge Aap maddad to karen

 

[Areesh]

K2 is supposed to be the most difficult to climb no ?

Yup it is. Far more difficult than Mount Everest even though it is higher than K2

 

[Reichsmarschall]

Inshallah kuch krenge Aap maddad to karen

Watan e Aziz k liye tou Jan b Hazir ha ap hukaam karain

 

[El Sidd]

Watan e Aziz k liye tou Jan b Hazir ha ap hukaam karain

Sir hukum krne ki zaat Allah ki hai. Me sirf request krsakta hon.

I will post with @PakSword the course of action and you guys can help refine it.

 

[HttpError]

K2 is supposed to be the most difficult to climb no ?

Yes, K2 is considered the holy grail among professional mountaineers. 1 out 4 people die attempting a summit to K2. Furthermore, no human has ever been able to summit K2 during winters.

 

[El Sidd]

Yes, K2 is considered the holy grail among professional mountaineers. 1 out 4 people die attempting a summit to K2. Furthermore, no human has ever been able to summit K2 during winters.

There was a cigarette ad: K2 is Pakistan i.e K2 ka Pakistan.

Well the message was clearer than ever.

A double meaning message which makes me laugh today as well.

 

[khanz]

what is she british a citizen too then ? not that I mind but I'm surprised so many of these non-pakistani origin western girls seem to have some sort of affinity for pakistan- I've seen so many of them pakistani music/movies/tv/food/culture/travel etc on social media nowdays it's common to seen even indians reacting to pakistani stuff it is really doing wonders for pakistan -This isolation nonsense is crap.