Fourteen Peaks

In 2001, Edurne Pasaban, age 28, summited Mount Everest. She later went on to climb Makalu, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum I, K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna, and Shishapangma, becoming the first woman in the world to climb all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres. During her journey to the top, she lost 14 close friends.

What’s the most thrilling climb you’ve ever done?

Let’s say that my life has two chapters: one before K2 and one after. K2 is a very dangerous mountain. It is shaped like a pyramid. No woman before me had ever climbed it and returned alive. It was extremely difficult to summit it at first try, but we did it. I had a strong team. It was a life-changing experience. From that point on, I developed a different self-confidence. I felt like I was in control of my own life.

(K2, 8,611 metres above sea level and located on the China–Pakistan border, is the second highest mountain in the world)