Manaslu Summit Marks Powerful Return to Extreme Altitude
British Pakistani mountaineer Nadia Azad has reached the summit of Mount Manaslu in Nepal, the world’s eighth-highest peak at 8,163 metres. She achieved the feat on September 26 at 5:15am local time, becoming only the second Pakistani woman to climb four mountains above 8,000 metres.
Azad, who has family roots in Karachi and Baloch heritage from her father’s side, called the summit a deeply personal milestone. “The mountain doesn’t hand out summits; it demands respect, patience, and humility,” she shared on Instagram, reflecting on her return to high-altitude mountaineering after a two-and-a-half-year break.
Manaslu, often referred to as the “mountain of the spirit,” is part of the exclusive club of 14 “8000ers” — peaks above 8,000m located in the Himalayas and Karakoram. Azad now joins a rare group of climbers, and an even rarer circle of women, who have conquered multiple peaks in the so-called “death zone.”
Elite Climber and Marathoner Breaking Global Barriers
Azad’s journey through the world’s highest mountains has been extraordinary. In 2023, she scaled Annapurna I, Everest, and Lhotse — the latter two within days. She has also completed the prestigious Seven Summits challenge, climbing the highest peak on every continent, a feat previously achieved by only one other Pakistani woman, Samina Baig.
Outside the mountains, Azad is a committed marathoner, having completed the New York, Berlin, and London marathons. She is set to run the Chicago Marathon next month, pursuing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.
“I carry the Pakistani flag to the world’s highest mountains,” she said. “My goal is to inspire others to dream beyond limits and take space in places where we’re rarely seen.”
