Around 6 p.m. on 12/6 Alaska time (which was 13/6 Vietnam time), Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (Celine Nha Nguyen), a 39-year-old lawyer from Ho Chi Minh City, officially set foot on the summit of Denali at an elevation of 6,190 meters. This marked the final piece in her "Seven Summits" challenge, a goal she had pursued since 2016.

Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, is North America's highest peak, located in the central Alaska Range. Climbers consider it one of the world's harshest mountain environments. With an average temperature of about -10°C, only one-half of those who attempt the climb reach the summit. Between 1950 and 1969, a weather station there recorded temperatures around -73°C, with wind chill dropping to -83,4°C.

Unlike mountains in the Himalayan system that often have porter support, conquering Denali requires self-reliance. Thanh Nha's expedition began its journey on Denali on 30/5. Nha shared that the entire team had to carry all their own equipment, pull their own sleds with supplies, set up camps, and live entirely on ice and snow.

On 12/6, the expedition team seized a "weather window" in the sub-Arctic region—a brief period when extreme conditions temporarily subsided. To capitalize on this opportunity to push for the summit, the team decided to skip their planned rest day at Camp 4, departing for the peak in the early morning. This decision allowed the team to reach the summit under clear skies, good visibility, and almost no wind, a rare occurrence on Denali.

"Denali also demands extreme caution", Nha stated. Earlier this climbing season, a serious accident occurred when four climbers roped together slipped in the Autobahn section, resulting in three fatalities. This incident heightened vigilance among all teams, prioritizing safety above all else.

Challenges continued during the descent. Eager to return home, the team trekked through the night, passing three camps to reach Base Camp in a single push. However, the weather suddenly worsened, with heavy fog preventing transport planes from taking off from the Kahiltna Glacier. The team was forced to pitch tents and remain stuck for an additional night before being safely evacuated to Talkeetna town.

Lawyer Thanh Nha on Denali summit on 12/6. *Photo: Courtesy*

On 16/6 Vietnam time, Thanh Nha's team safely descended to base camp. She plans to return to Vietnam on 17/6.

Reflecting on this historic milestone, Thanh Nha shared that her greatest feelings upon reaching Denali's summit were gratitude and relief after ten years of perseverance, facing pressures, pursuing dreams, and enduring setbacks. "When standing on the summit, I knew I had completed a very big dream of my life. The feeling at that moment was not one of triumph or glory, but of gratitude towards my family, friends, companions, and the mountains that taught me so many lessons throughout this journey", Celine Nha Nguyen said.

For her Denali expedition, Thanh Nha partnered with the US-based adventure tour operator Mountain Trip and legendary Nepali climber Mingma G. On 15/6, Mountain Trip posted images capturing the moment the expedition team, including Thanh Nha, successfully summited Denali. In a social media post, the US tour operator announced that six Mountain Trip teams had stood on Denali's summit in the past seven days, expressing pride in their members' achievements.

Thanh Nha (top row, second from left) with her teammates and international guides on Denali summit on 12/6. *Photo: Mountain Trip*

According to Denali National Park management, climbers, regardless of nationality or residence, must register at least 60 days before their trip and attend an in-person safety orientation with US National Park Service patrol and rescue personnel before starting their journey. Denali National Park management does not impose specific experience thresholds for permit issuance. As Denali presents a challenging high-altitude technical climbing environment, the managing agency requires climbers to possess adequate skills, training, and situational awareness to manage risks when traversing glaciers, dealing with extreme weather, altitude sickness, and other potential hazards. Individuals lacking experience in these conditions are advised to go with an authorized park guiding service.

The "Seven Summits" challenge involves conquering the seven highest peaks on seven continents, a goal proposed by American climber Richard Bass in the 1980s. Before completing the Denali ascent, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha had successfully climbed six other peaks: Kilimanjaro (Africa), Aconcagua (South America), Elbrus (Europe), Vinson Massif (Antarctica), Puncak Jaya (Oceania), and Everest (Asia), where she also made history as the first Vietnamese woman to summit in 2022.

This achievement in Alaska places Thanh Nha among a select group of climbers worldwide who have fully completed this challenge, marking a historic milestone for Vietnamese adventure sports on the international map.

Bich Phuong