You're reading: First Ukrainian women reach Mount Everest summit

Iryna Halay, 28, became the first Ukrainian lady who conquered the highest mountain in the world Mount Everest on May 20. Tetyana Yalovchak, another Ukrainian citizen, also conquered the summit the following day.

Before Halay and
Yalovchak, around 10 other Ukrainians reached the top of Everest, all being
men.

Yalovchak
successfully participated in 50 expeditions reaching various mountain peaks
around the globe before taking a step towards the highest summit.

Back in February,
Yalovchak told Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty that she knew what she was
going for.

“The difficulty
is that if the weather would be bad, no one will come for us. The helicopter
lifts only up to 7,000 meters,” Yalovchak said. “I totally understand where I’m
going.”

Both Halay and
Yalovchak flew to Katmandu, Nepal on April 13, where they waited for the proper
weather to start conquering the ascent. The whole climbing trip took around two
months.

For Yalovchak the
challenge had patriotic meaning. Throughout the whole trip she walked with a rushnyk,
an embroidered Ukrainian cloth, which she unfolded at the top of the mountain.

Yalovchak
dedicated around ten years to climbing. “I became fascinated with climbing
three years ago,” Halay said.

The first
mountain that she conquered was the result of a silly bet she played with her
friend. Halay lost the bet and traveled to Russia to climb Mount Kazbek. “It
was successful,” she said. “And after that, I live from mountain to mountain.”

Her appearance
differs from the typical look of climbers as she has long blonde hair and uses a
shiny purple ice ax.

“This ice pick
will break some stereotypes,” she said on Ukraine’s First TV Channel before her
adventure. “I picked all of my equipment in one color.”

Over 200 people
have also successfully conquered Mount Everest the same day when Halay did.

But many times
climbers get severely sick because of the cold temperatures and altitude
sickness, which often prevents climbers from reaching the top. They must wear
oxygen masks once they are in the higher altitudes.

For some, the
trip cost their lives. The last 500-meter zone is the most dangerous which is
why it is called the “death zone.” Two climbers – an Australian and one Dutch –
both passed away after they reached the top because of altitude sickness.