A new and remarkable chapter has been written in the history of Azerbaijani mountaineering. Vafa Musayeva has become the first Azerbaijani woman to conquer the world’s highest peak — Mount Everest (8,849 meters).
Just days after reaching the top of Everest, Musayeva continued her extraordinary journey by summiting another formidable giant — Lhotse (8,516 meters), the world’s fourth-highest mountain.
Every ascent of these towering peaks is a story of bravery and endurance. For centuries, the world’s highest summits have captivated adventurers and tested the limits of human courage. But when a woman stands atop Everest, the narrative becomes even more powerful and inspiring.
The legacy of female climbers began with Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei, who became the first woman to summit Everest on May 16, 1975. Just ten days later, Tibetan climber Phantog followed in her footsteps. Over the years, many legendary female climbers have followed suit — including Wanda Rutkiewicz, the third woman in the world to reach the summit.
Climbing Everest is widely known as one of the world’s most dangerous endeavors. In 2015, a devastating earthquake in Nepal triggered avalanches on the mountain's slopes, claiming at least 19 lives in the South Base Camp and destroying climbing routes. It was the deadliest season in Everest's history — and for the first time in 41 years, no one reached the summit that spring.
In this context, Vafa Musayeva's successful ascent marks a true act of courage. As renowned Azerbaijani mountaineer Israfil Ashurlu once stated:
"I’ve always wished for more Azerbaijani climbers to summit Everest. Based on citizenship, I was the first to do so in 2007, followed by Vadim Vokryachko in 2019. Ethnically, Murad Ashurlu, my cousin with a different citizenship, summited in 2013, as did Ukrainian climber Elmira Aslanova.”
Vafa now joins that elite list — and stands out as the first Azerbaijani woman to accomplish the feat.
The news of her triumph was first shared by legendary Nepalese climber Lakpa Sherpa, who himself broke a world record this season by summiting Everest for the 10th time via different routes.
What makes Musayeva’s achievement even more impressive is her decision to push further after Everest. She descended to a high-altitude camp situated between 7,900–8,000 meters and then climbed Lhotse — located just 3 kilometers south of Everest on the Nepal-China border.
Her climb was both bold and calculated. “I wanted to summit both Everest and Lhotse in one season,” she said. “Fortunately, I succeeded.”
The courage, stamina, and relentless determination it takes to endure such a mission speaks for itself. Without doubt, this dual triumph will fuel Vafa Musayeva’s passion for even greater mountaineering feats.
She has not only made history — she has written a heroic saga in the mountains.
Zaki Feyzullayev
Idman.biz
