Indian 'Everest-twin sisters' - NungshiTashi - make history again

December 20 2014,

India’s famous ‘Everest twins’ Nungshi and Tashi (popularly known as NungshiTashi), scaled Mt Vinson, the highest peak of Antarctica to become world’s first twins to achieve this feat. And in doing so, they have also created history by becoming world’s first twins to scale the tallest peaks in all seven continents, the famed ‘Seven Summits’.

In addition, NungshiTashi have also become world’s first siblings to do it since a pair of brother–sister duo of Pakistan, who came close to claiming this record, narrowly missed out as the brother failed to climb Everest with his sister last year. While the sister has now climbed all seven summits , the brother has climbed only six. The twins achieved this feat on 16 December noon, after a tough 8 hours climb from their high camp to the summit. They were aided by sudden break in weather that turned friendly soon after they commenced their ‘final push’ for the summit.

NungshiTashi recently featured in the 60th edition of the Guinness world records for their Everest feat. Earlier they had also been featured in Limca Book of Records.

Mount Vinson (4892m / 16,045ft) is the highest peak in Antarctica. Located only 660 nautical miles from the South Pole, Mt Vinson is the highest peak in Antarctica and is one of the "Seven Summits." It is also one of the most remote mountains on earth. Mount Vinson was first summited in 1966 by climbers led by Nicholas Clinch from the American Alpine Club and the National Science Foundation. It was the last of the 7 Summits to be conquered.

Though not technically the hardest to climb, it is extremely cold, very windy, and just high enough for you to get hit by the altitude. A solid background of snow and ice techniques is required to be proficient in this ice covered continent and previous snow camping experience.

With this feat, NungshiTashi, at the young age of 23 years, have already achieved numerous ‘World’s First’ in mountaineering which include:
a) Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest peak) in Feb 2012
b) Mt Everest (World’s & Asia’s highest) on 19 May 2013
c) Mt Elbrus (Europe’s highest peak) in Aug 2013
d) Mt Aconcagua (South America’s tallest peak) in Jan 2014
e) Mt Carstensz Pyramid (Australasia’s tallest peak) in Mar 2014
f) World’s youngest twin sisters and 2nd pair to conquer Mt McKinley (North America’s tallest peak) on 04 Jun 2014,
g) Mt Vinson (Antarctica’s highest peak) on 15 Dec 2014
h) They are also First twin sisters ever to conquer an unclimbed, un-named peak at 21000 ft located in Indian Himalayas on 12 Aug 2013

With successful climb of Mt Vinson, the twins have entered the ‘hall of fame’ for mountaineers, ‘the seven summit club’. So far nearly 450 mountaineers from around the world have scaled all the seven summits. Before NungshiTashi, only one Indian male and one female had so far completed the same. The twins have become the youngest Indians to achieve this feat.

NungshiTashi set out on #mission2for7 after their Everest success last year, to climb the tallest peaks in all seven continents for the cause of the Indian girl child with motto ‘gender equality now – fight against female feticide’.

These historic achievements by young girls in a sport dominate by men, with roots in one of India’s most conservative rural societies notorious for its extremely bad sex-ratio in favour of boys due to the obnoxious practice of female feticides; will have incalculable positive impact on our society. Further it will inspire millions of young girls and women to dream big and achieve their goals.

NungshiTashi have already set their sights on a new mission #UnchaiyonSeAage-DuniyaKiHaddonTak to complete the ‘Explorers Grand Slam’ by skiing to North and South Pole, after completing the Seven Summits.

With generous sponsorship from Mahindra group and backed by Livguard, on 19 Dec they will embark on ‘last degree ski to South Pole’ covering a distance of approx 120 km from 89 degree parallel. They will carry their own loads including gear, rations and tents on sleds braving strong winds and temperatures dipping to below 130 degrees.

NungshiTashi have been awarded the First ever New Zealand India Sports Scholarships to pursue higher studies in Sport and Exercise starting next year February.

Col VS Malik Retd
Manager #mission2for7, and Mission#UnchaiyonSeAage
Twin sisters on Seven Summits & Ski to North & South Pole. Inspiring girls worldwide!
www.nungshitashi.com
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twitter: @nungshitashi