A new milestone for Qatari and Arab women on the world’s highest peaks

DOHA: Qatari mountaineer Sheikha Asma bint Thani Al Thani has climbed 11 of the world’s 14 mountains higher than 8,000 metres, moving closer to completing one of mountaineering’s most demanding challenges.

Her latest achievement came with the successful ascent of Gasherbrum II, one of the world’s highest peaks, located in the Karakoram range on the border between Pakistan and China.

The climb adds to Sheikha Asma’s growing list of high-altitude achievements as she continues her pursuit of summiting all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 metres.

The mountains, known as the world’s “eight-thousanders”, are considered among the most challenging objectives in mountaineering because climbers must contend with extreme cold, severe weather, steep terrain and limited oxygen at high altitude.

Above roughly 8,000 metres lies the so-called “death zone”, where oxygen levels are dangerously low and the human body struggles to function normally for extended periods.

With 11 of the 14 peaks now completed, Sheikha Asma is three summits away from achieving the full mountaineering challenge, joining a select group of climbers who have pursued the feat.

Her latest ascent of Gasherbrum II further underlines Qatar’s growing presence in high-altitude mountaineering and adds another milestone to Sheikha Asma’s effort to complete the world’s highest mountains.