HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, 30-11-2017: Jaahnavi Sriperambuduru who is doing the seven summit climb is preparing to climb Mount Everest. Also the youngest guide at Everest base camp, Jaahnavi also happens to be the youngest TedX speaker. Jaahnavi trains with her father Krishna Sriperambuduru who is also mountain climber. Photo: K.V.S. Giri
Jaahnavi Sriperambuduru makes a face when she smiles. Like any other youngster she doesn’t like her father discussing her favourite hobby or her fussy eating habits. When at home she is busy with their demanding pomeranian dog but secretly wishes she could continue with her favourite pastime — sleeping. She is not a gadget-obsessed-selfie-crazy young girl. Jaahnavi has scaled many impossible heights for her age and is currently gearing up to scale the ‘death zone’. As part of her mission seven-summit, Jaahnavi will be scaling the Everest next year and the father-daughter duo are excited with the planning, training and the arrangements. Death zone? “Any place that is 7500 meters and above has no oxygen. So it is called the death zone,” explains Jaahnavi’s father Dr Krishna Sreeperambuduru who is also her mentor, guide and trainer.
It’s called ‘mission seven summit’ because Jaahnavi’s decision to scale all the seven peaks of the continents of the world. Climbing the Everest would be the 16-year-old’s first climb into the death zone.
She has earlier scaled Mount Denali (7000 meter) in North America. Denali is one of deadliest peaks and most attempted peaks in the world. A lot of climbers attempt to scale it but only a few of them succeed and Jaahnavi is one of the successful ones.
Jaahnavi’s sports a fearless and cool demeanour. This youngest TedX speaker is looking forward to it and does not want to anticipate the environment there already.
“I want to be there to climb and enjoy every step. It is about pushing my limit to everything. This push is not only for me as a climber but also for all girls of the world. My scaling the Everest is about challenging the weather, the ability to fight and if I have been able to scale these heights and reach the summit of various other tall peaks in the world others can also overcome their day to day fears. If I can challenge my limits other girls also can,” explains Jaahnavi.
Jaahnavi and her dad, when not climbing a snowy peak in some part of the world, are busy trekking in and around the city with children who are willing to learn and step out to see the world beyond their TV screens and ipads. Every morning Jaahnavi’s routine involves cardio, weight training, climbing and running. “Basically whatever my dad decides and his mood,” she laughs. Not too fond of gym training, Jaahnavi’s dad mostly utilises the outdoor for her training.
HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, 30-11-2017: Jaahnavi Sriperambuduru who is doing the seven summit climb is preparing to climb Mount Everest. Also the youngest guide at Everest base camp, Jaahnavi also happens to be the youngest TedX speaker. Jaahnavi trains with her father Krishna Sriperambuduru who is also mountain climber. Photo: K.V.S. Giri
Why is Jaahnavi trained by her dad? “Dad has taught me everything and since he is a mountain climber himself and a fitness expert, I think he is the one who know my potential. I was 10 months old when I went on my first climb. At that age, I have no idea what was happening. After that I went on several climbs that he conducted and actively participated in everything which the rest of the team did,” she recollects.
Everest will be Jaahnavi’s fifth summit and view from each of it, she describes to us, as stunning. “The view from the summit is breathtaking. The pain, the troubles, the long hours is all worth it,” she says. Jaahnavi did her first big climb to Khilimanjaro at the age of 12 and that’s when she came to know about the seven-summit climb. Prior to Khilimanjaro, Jaahnavi had gained experience with several base camp trips, trek to Roopkund at the age of nine and a couple of Himalayan expeditions at 10.
An avid climber, Jaahnavi loves the idea of a night climb “because it makes the climber unaware of the route, the lurking heights. It is all about walking and following the guide,” says she who is also a trained glacier-rescue training.
How would she want to relax after she is back? “Go to some country and enjoy the sun and heat,” she giggles.
