Leah Jay is feeling on top of the world … literally.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Orange resident has successfully climbed Mount Everest.
The remarkable feat was part of her goal to climb “seven summits”, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents.
The James Sheahan Catholic High School graduate embarked on this epic odyssey to honour the memory of her son Elliot, who died in 2008 at age 19 after a 12-month battle with motor neurone disease.
The Everest climb was her sixth summit and she will now set her sights on scaling Denali mountain in Alaska.
Mrs Jay reached the top of Everest on Monday, after more than eight hours of climbing overnight.
“It is beautiful, but also extremely harsh and unforgiving,” she said.
“I am thrilled with my efforts and would have been whether we reached the summit or not.
“I am ever so grateful for the experience and the amazing people I encountered along the way.”
Mrs Jay, who founded the Hunter property management company that shares her name, has been in Nepal since early April with an expedition team, acclimatising to the harsh, high-altitude conditions.
The team completed several journeys between base camp and the four camps above before weather permitted a summit attempt shortly before dawn on Monday.
The dangers of climbing the mountain are never far from the news.
It was reported on Monday that three Mount Everest climbers had died.
This included 54-year-old Australian Francesco Marchetti, who died from altitude sickness.
Climbing the perilous and treacherous mountain was a massive test of Mrs Jay’s physical and mental strength.
She is an advocate for raising awareness and funds for Motor Neurone Disease Australia.
THE WORLD’S SEVEN SUMMITS
- Africa: Kilimanjaro (5895 metres), Tanzania
- Antarctica: Mount Vinson (4892 metres)
- Australasia: Carstensz Pyramid (4884 metres)
- Asia: Mount Everest (8848 metres), Nepal
- North America: Denali (6194 metres), United States
- South America: Aconcagua (6961 metres), Argentina
- Europe: Mont Elbrus (5642 metres), Russia