Q&A: You cannot expect the top of the world to be comfortable

Kristin Harila, the Norwegian mountaineer who recently set a world record by scaling all 14 of the world's highest peaks in an astonishing 92 days, is contemplating an early retirement from the demanding sport.

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No, I didn’t. I actually climbed my first high mountain, Kilimanjaro, in 2015. And then, after that experience, I eventually quit my job in 2019. And then, after quitting, I started to come here to Nepal.

Harila, alongside her late climbing partner Tenjen Lama Sherpa, achieved this remarkable feat, surpassing previous records and cementing her place in mountaineering history. Over a relentless six-year period, she has accumulated 31 summits of 8,000-meter peaks, including the "Himalayan triple crown" this past climbing season.

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Well, like I said, I was doing a lot of cross-country skiing, and I was running extensively in the mountains back home. Because of that, I think I had pretty decent endurance to begin with. And I had climbed many mountains before coming to the Himalayas, but they were lower. So, I think that background was the main thing for me.

Despite her rapid ascent to fame and success, Harila expressed a desire to step away from the extreme demands of high-altitude climbing. "It’s mainly because I spend so much time away from home," she stated, indicating a need to prioritize personal life over professional pursuits. This decision comes after a career marked by intense dedication and significant time spent in Nepal over the last six years.

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Well, I had heard about him before, and I met him briefly a couple of times through the company operations. Then, we climbed Manaslu first together in March of 2023. And then right after that, we went to Shishapangma and Cho Oyu, and we had a very good experience there together. And then, after experiencing that, we decided to climb all the remaining peaks together.

Her journey into professional mountaineering began after climbing Kilimanjaro in 2015. She later quit her job in 2019 to pursue climbing in Nepal. Harila attributes her success to a strong endurance base developed through years of cross-country skiing and mountain running in her native Norway, where high mountains are scarce. She met her climbing partner, Tenjen Lama Sherpa, in early 2023, and they quickly formed a successful partnership, deciding to tackle all remaining peaks together after an initial positive experience.

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Yes. But it’s not like it’s been so short. I’ve been here every year, six years in a row now. And I have spent a lot of time in Nepal over the last six years, so it’s not so short a time anymore when you count the intensity. I have had 31 summits now on 8,000-metre peaks. So, of course, it’s a lot of summits, so I know now that it is over.