Oh Eun-sun Preparing to Conquer 14th Peak
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
With only one peak standing between Oh Eun-sun and history, the South Korea climber will have some much added support with her friend Ko Mi-young close by ― in her right pocket.
As Oh prepares to climb Annapurna peak in Nepal ― the last of the world's 14 peaks more than 8,000 meters above sea level that she has yet to conquer ― she holds onto a photograph of Ko. The South Korean's rival and friend died in July climbing Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters).
If Oh succeeds in standing atop Annapurna, she will become the first woman to conquer all 14 peaks in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges without the support of supplementary oxygen.
The first climber to top all 14 mountains was Reinhold Messner of Italy in 1986. Koreans Park Young-seok, Eum Hong-gil and Han Wang-yong have also achieved the feat.
Oh reached the top of her 12th and 13th peaks, Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) and Gasherbrum I (8,069), in July and August, respectively.
She departed for Nepal for her final challenge on Sept. 14. If she is successful Annapurna will be the fifth of the 14 that the 43-year-old has climbed this year.
"The mountain is not an object to conquer but a friend to share my destiny with," Oh said before her departure.
Eun-sun has reached base camp and will begin her ascent of Annapurna peak soon.
"The scenery was really wonderful heading to the base camp, so it was not hard. When I came here I felt comfortable. The conditions are good," Oh told the press after she arrived at the base camp located 4,190 meters above sea level, Monday (KST).