Days after she successfully climbed the 4,884-metre Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, Poorna Malavath, a teenager from Nizamabad district, shared her experience of the challenges that came her way during the ascent.
“Carstensz Pyramid (locally known as Puncak Jaya) is a highly technical climb where we had to set up rope pathways for ascent and descent. Every step is difficult, every mountain is a challenge,” said Ms. Malavath, who scaled the Mt. Everest when she was 13 years of age in 2014, creating a record for a female mountaineer. “I have climbed five mountains in five continents. The remaining two are 6,190-metre Mt. Denali in North America and Vinson Massif in Antarctica, which I am planning to scale as early as possible,” said Ms. Malavath.
She has already scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Aconcagua which form part of the Messner Version of the seven mountains-seven continents challenge for mountaineers.
The student of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions (TSWREI) said she tries to study whenever she can as she pursues her goal of climbing the seven mountains.
“My journey into mountaineering was accidental, and all thanks to the TSWREI and my parents that I can pursue it. I wish all the parents let their children chase their dreams,” said Ms. Malavath on the occasion.
“We always wanted to show that children from disadvantaged families can prove themselves if they are given an opportunity. Poorna has proved that, thanks to her grit and determination,” said R.S. Praveen Kumar of TSWREI, who has been instrumental in changing the trajectory of the social welfare schools in the State.
