16-year-old who conquered Antarctica | Fusion - WeRIndia

What fuels a teenager to conquer some of the world’s most challenging peaks?

For Padakanti Vishwanath Karthikey, it’s a mix of passion, determination, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.

At just 16, this young mountaineer has already achieved what many can only dream of.

On December 3, Karthikey became the youngest Indian to summit Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak at 16,050 feet.

This feat was part of a Boots and Crampons-Elite Exped expedition led by famed British mountaineer Nirmal Purja. But this wasn’t Karthikey’s first major achievement.

In August 2022, he scaled Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, from both its eastern and western sides within 24 hours, making him the youngest Indian to do so.

Karthikey describes the Vinson climb as his toughest yet. Months of rigorous training and unwavering family support kept him going. His mentor, Bharat Thammineni led Boots and Crampons.

Karthikey’s accomplishments span continents. He has scaled Denali in North America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Kosciuszko in Australia, and numerous peaks in India and Nepal.

Notably, he climbed Mount Denali without supplemental oxygen, a feat requiring immense resilience. At just 16, he has already completed five of the Seven Summits.

Balancing academics and mountaineering is no small feat. Karthikey’s day begins at 4:40 a.m. with training and ends with college studies.

His mother, Laxmi, reflects on his transformation. She says that he struggled academically before mountaineering. However, trekking instilled discipline in him and improved his grades and focus.

With family support and a dream to join the National Defence Academy, Karthikey’s journey continues.

He aims to summit Mount Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount Everest by April, edging closer to completing the Seven Summits.

Mountaineering, however, comes with significant costs. The Mount Vinson expedition alone required ₹50 lakh, while Everest demanded ₹45 lakh. Despite the challenges, his mentor Bharat praises Karthikey’s growing mental toughness.

Karthikey’s story is one of ambition and grit. From an 11-year-old inspired by sibling rivalry to a record-breaking mountaineer, his journey is far from over.

Image Credit: LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pen%C3%ADnsula-Peterman_4.jpg