Woman aiming to be youngest Briton to conquer Everest from both flanks
A WOMAN is aiming to make history by becoming the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest from both sides.
Mollie Hughes, 26, who lives in Edinburgh, plans to tackle the world’s highest peak (8,848m) for a second time in May after successfully climbing the mountain from its south side in 2012.
Ms Hughes, who works at outdoor retailer Tiso, plans to take on the north side of the mountain to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
The north route from a base camp in Tibet is said to expose mountaineers to colder and windier conditions than the south, while negotiating altitudes of more than 8,500m in the so-called “death zone”.
The feat would see her become the youngest British national, the youngest European woman and the first English female – she is originally from Torbay, Devon – to scale the peak from both the north and south sides.
The current British record is held by Lynne Hannah, 54, from Northern Ireland, who achieved ascents from both sides in 2016.
In 1975, Junko Tabei, from Japan, became the first female climber to summit the mountain that in 1953 was first officially climbed by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary.
On her adventure, primarily supported by Tiso, Ms Hughes will be joined by Jon Gupta, an experienced climber from Mountain Expeditions.
Ms Hughes, who started climbing at secondary school and at the age of 17 scaled Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain, – said: “To climb Mount Everest is an incredible experience, one that is also the ultimate test of your psychological resolve and ability to cope with physical suffering.
“After more than two years of preparation, training is going well and I am really excited to be climbing with Jon Gupta.
“I am also hugely appreciative to have the invaluable financial and technical support of Tiso for an ascent of the spectacular north side of the mountain that will push us to the limit.
“I love climbing and adventurous activities.
“Hopefully, my second expedition to Mount Everest will inspire other young women to realise that with careful planning and determination, challenges can be overcome and dreams achieved.”
Chris Tiso, chief executive of Tiso Group, said: “Mollie is an inspirational young woman.
“I am very proud Tiso will be returning to Mount Everest in support of her bid, for which she is making meticulous preparation.
“All at Tiso Group wish her a safe and successful expedition.”
The climbers will travel to China in early April to acclimatise.
They will be on the mountain for approximately six weeks, during which Ms Hughes anticipates the final summit push will take six or seven days.
If all goes to plan, Ms Hughes aims to stand atop Mount Everest on May 19 in expected temperatures of minus 40°C.