Pepper ticks off Langtang trek ahead of Annapurna-I ascent without supplementary o2

Australian female mountaineer Allie Pepper is in Nepal. Pepper is on a mission to pursue her dream of completing all 14 eight thousand peaks (to their true summits) without supplementary oxygen, within 2 years and looks on track to achieve it.

This spring season, Pepper is going to climb mount Annapurna-I, Makalu and Kanchenjunga before heading Pakistan to climb Nanga Parbat & K2. In autumn she aims to climb Shishapangma and Cho Oyu. Before embarking on the remaining peaks Gasherbrum-II, Gasherbrum-I, Dhaulagiri, Lhotse & Everest in 2025.

Annapurna-I is the 10th highest mountain in the world, at 8,091 metres above sea level and a perfect start to the climbing season in Nepal. Though before going for mount Annapurna-I, she just returned from the Langtang Valley trek. Pepper did a 4 day trek to Langtang Valley with her high altitude guide & climbing partner, Mingtemba Sherpa (Mikel Sherpa).

According to Allie Pepper,

“Mikel and I are just back from Langtang Valley trek. It was a wonderful experience.”

Allie Pepper Mikel Sherpa Tsergo Ri

“I did the Langtang Valley trek in the preparation for Mount Annapurna 1. We will move to Annapurna I base camp in the next week. During our trek to Langtang, we went from Syabrubeshi to Lama hotel and Kyanjin Gumpa. From Kyanjin Gumpa we hiked to Kyanjin Ri, Tsergo Ri and headed above Yala Kharka to 5080 metres,” shared Pepper.

She added that during trek to Langtang Valley, “I saw beautiful views of mountains around, langurs, many beautiful birds, beautiful Villages, lodges and people who were so kind to us.”

Mikel sherpa said, “Allie and I did a four-day trek to Langtang Valley, it was a wonderful experience. She is a very strong and determined woman, which definitely shows that she will pursue her dream successfully. As we know hard works always pays off, she is doing really hard work. I already guided her during the Manaslu expedition in 2023 without supplementary oxygen. Knowing her closely it feels like she will fulfil her dream to complete all 14 Peaks without supplementary oxygen,” shared Mikel.

Pepper and her team reached Kathmandu on March 4 this year. This spring season she has locked her eyes to scale the mount Annapurna I without supplementary oxygen and after that she planned to continue to climb mount Kanchenjunga and mount Makalu. Mount Kanchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world. Its summit lies at 8,586 metres and mount Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,485 metres. For her expedition she has chosen expedition company Seven Summit Treks.

A Sydney-based mountaineer Allie is aiming to climb all the 14 mountains above eight thousand meters in the world without supplemental oxygen in two years.

Pepper is not new to climbing as she has her fair share of experience in the mountains after becoming the first Australian woman to summit Broad Peak (8,051m) in July 15, 2023 the 12th highest mountain in the world, without supplemental oxygen and Mt Manaslu (8,163m) the 5th highest mountain in the world, without the use of supplemental oxygen on September 28, 2023.

She started climbing 8000m mountains in 2007 when she summited Mt Cho Oyu, also without bottled oxygen. With this, 48-year-old Pepper aims to encourage women facing challenges to conquer their own mental mountains.

Only 6 people have climbed all 14 peaks.