Norwegian Climber Retires after Becoming Fastest to Climb World's Highest 14 Peaks in 92 Days

Norwegian climber Kristin Harila (C) and Nepali guide Tenjin Sherpa (C, right) arrive at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu on August 5, 2023, after they set the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter mountains. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
Norwegian climber Kristin Harila (C) and Nepali guide Tenjin Sherpa (C, right) arrive at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu on August 5, 2023, after they set the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter mountains. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
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Norwegian Climber Retires after Becoming Fastest to Climb World's Highest 14 Peaks in 92 Days

Norwegian climber Kristin Harila (C) and Nepali guide Tenjin Sherpa (C, right) arrive at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu on August 5, 2023, after they set the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter mountains. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
Norwegian climber Kristin Harila (C) and Nepali guide Tenjin Sherpa (C, right) arrive at the Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu on August 5, 2023, after they set the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter mountains. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)

A Norwegian who just became the fastest climber to scale all the world’s 14 highest mountains announced she was retiring from climbing high peaks on Saturday upon her return to Nepal.
Kristin Harila along with her Sherpa guide Tenjin were given a hero's welcome at the Kathmandu airport where hundreds including mountaineers, government officials and well-wishers gathered to welcome them back with cheers and flower garlands.
Harila and Tenjin scaled Mount K2 in Pakistan last week, thus concluding the climb of the 14th peak — that is more than 8000 meters — high in 92 days, shattering the previous record of 189 days.
“I don’t think I will try any eight-thousand meters for a while." Harila said. "I have done 28 eight-thousand meters in total so I think I have done my part.”
The 37-year-old climber began the mission of setting a new record in April by scaling Mount Shishapangma followed by other peaks in China as well as Nepal, including Mount Everest. She then moved on to Pakistan to complete her list of climbs.
This year was her second attempt to set the record of becoming the fastest climber of the 14 peaks.
Harila had initially begun her world record attempt in April 2022 with the aim of completing it by September. But she only managed 12 peaks after Chinese authorities restricted foreign travel to the country because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am going to do running in the mountains and have already signed up for a race,” she said of her immediate plans.
Harila said Mount K2, the last one on her list was the most difficult one to tackle. K2 is the second-highest peak in the world.
Harila said that weather conditions usually dictate how difficult a climb can be and this year they faced “very hard conditions on K2” because of “ very deep snow.”
The last record for the fastest climb of the 14 peaks was held by Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born British citizen who scaled them in 189 days in 2019, beating the previous record of more than seven years set by a South Korean climber. Purja’s climbs were later adapted into a popular Netflix documentary, “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.”



Wildlife Center Releases 25 Endangered Species in Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve

The released animals included five Arabian oryxes, 15 sand gazelles, two steppe eagles, and three Egyptian vultures - SPA
The released animals included five Arabian oryxes, 15 sand gazelles, two steppe eagles, and three Egyptian vultures - SPA
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Wildlife Center Releases 25 Endangered Species in Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve

The released animals included five Arabian oryxes, 15 sand gazelles, two steppe eagles, and three Egyptian vultures - SPA
The released animals included five Arabian oryxes, 15 sand gazelles, two steppe eagles, and three Egyptian vultures - SPA

The National Center for Wildlife, in cooperation with the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority, has released 25 endangered native species into the reserve.

This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts to breed and reintroduce endangered species into their natural habitats, according to SPA.
The released animals included five Arabian oryxes, 15 sand gazelles, two steppe eagles, and three Egyptian vultures.
This action aligns with the center’s mission to reintroduce native species, restore ecological balance, and enrich biodiversity within natural reserves.
The release marks a continuation of the center’s national efforts to rehabilitate ecosystems and implement breeding programs for endangered species. These efforts contribute to the goals of the National Environment Strategy and support the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative, reflecting the Kingdom’s vision for protecting natural resources and promoting their sustainability.