K2 in Pakistan, known as the “savage mountain,” looms majestically among a range of icy peaks and remains one of the most coveted destinations for climbers despite its notorious reputation for severe weather conditions and challenging terrain. Standing at 8,611 meters above sea level, K2 has captured the fascination of many alpinists, but few have successfully reached its summit.
One climber who dreamed of conquering K2 is Yolanda Xue Chen. A resident of Pacific Harbour, Fiji, and originally from China, the 37-year-old recently achieved this remarkable feat despite facing several obstacles along the way. Ms. Chen, who holds a degree in international economics and trade, described K2 as her “dream mountain,” emphasizing that it represents a common aspiration among mountaineers.
“As a woman, we are doing the same as men on the mountain. I wanted to show the world that women can be just as strong as men on K2,” Chen stated. Her journey into mountaineering began with trekking, where she first encountered the Himalayan range, ultimately igniting her passion for the sport.
Ms. Chen has now summited six of the world’s “eight-thousanders,” a group of 14 mountains that rise above 8,000 meters. Before K2, she conquered Manaslu, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Kanchenjunga, and Everest. However, such achievements come with significant risks, including life-threatening health complications, particularly when climbing in the “death zone” above 8,000 meters, where oxygen levels are critically low.
Family concerns about her safety weigh heavily on Ms. Chen, as extreme sports carry inherent dangers, and the solitude of mountain climbing often means limited communication for extended periods. To mitigate these risks, she undergoes rigorous training to maintain peak physical condition.
This year’s K2 expedition was grueling but memorable. Part of an international team, Ms. Chen described the experience as a “super marathon” of rock and ice climbing. Despite unfavorable weather conditions that delayed their ascent, they finally reached the summit on July 28, where perfect weather greeted them. Overcome with emotion, Ms. Chen raised the Fiji flag at the top of K2, sharing, “I cried and cried.”
She recalled several unforgettable moments during the climb, including having to give her oxygen tank to a teammate who was struggling. Remarkably, she summited K2 without supplemental oxygen but faced a challenging descent, experiencing sickness and headaches along the way.
Tragedy also accompanied their journey; two climbers from Japan who took a different route to the summit lost their lives, reminding her of the risks that mountaineers face. Ms. Chen herself faced near-fatal dangers during her 2022 attempt to climb Dhaulagiri in Nepal when an avalanche nearly claimed her life.
Despite these dangers, Ms. Chen stays focused on her ultimate goal: to summit all 14 of the 8,000-meter peaks in the world and raise awareness about climate change. She expressed hopes of inspiring others, especially women, to pursue their dreams in mountaineering, asserting, “Where there is a challenge, there is motivation.”
When she is not climbing, Ms. Chen enjoys reading, cooking for her family, and spending time with her pets. She feels a deep yearning for home while on the mountain but also relishes the thrill it brings.