Uttarakhand's Kavita Chand Conquers Mount Vinson: Indian Mountaineer's Milestone in Seven Summits Quest

Kavita Chand from Uttarakhand commenced her expedition on December 3, departing from India.

New Delhi:

Kavita Chand, who hails from Almora in Uttarakhand, has carved her name in India's mountaineering history by successfully climbing Mount Vinson, Antarctica's highest peak. She reached the summit on December 12 at 8:30 pm local time. Standing at 4,892 metres above sea level, this accomplishment represents a significant milestone in her quest to complete the prestigious Seven Summits challenge.

Currently residing in Mumbai, the 40-year-old mountaineer's achievement has garnered widespread praise, especially in her native state. Her remarkable journey from the hills of Uttarakhand to conquering one of the world's most remote and challenging peaks is being celebrated with immense pride.

With Mount Vinson now conquered, Kavita has made substantial progress toward completing the Seven Summits, having previously scaled Mount Elbrus in Europe.

Mount Vinson is considered one of the world's most formidable mountains, presenting extreme challenges due to its isolation, freezing temperatures, and unpredictable Antarctic weather conditions.

Kavita's expedition began on December 3 when she left India. She arrived at Punta Arenas in Chile on December 4 and continued to Union Glacier on December 7.

Later that same day, she reached Vinson Base Camp, positioned at approximately 2,100 metres, after a 40-minute flight in a ski-equipped aircraft, highlighting the complex logistics involved in Antarctic expeditions.

The climb was guided by renowned high-altitude expert Mingma David Sherpa, with the Indian team supported by experienced mountaineer Bharath Thammineni and his expedition company, Boots and Crampon.

Under their leadership, a nine-member Indian team successfully summited the peak, with careful acclimatization, planning, and coordination proving essential in the harsh Antarctic environment.

Reflecting on her achievement, Kavita expressed that carrying the Indian tricolour to the summit was an indescribable honor. She hopes her journey will inspire working professionals to believe that ambition, fitness, and career success can coexist harmoniously.

Beyond her mountaineering accomplishments, Kavita is also an accomplished endurance athlete. As an avid marathoner, she has won the Delhi and Mumbai Hyrox 2025 events in her age category and has completed three races toward the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Challenge.

A former media professional, Kavita stepped away from her corporate career in 2024 to pursue fitness full-time, a decision she describes as life-changing.

Married to Deepak Chand Thakur, CEO and co-founder of NPST, Kavita continues to push boundaries, carrying her Uttarakhand heritage as she progresses toward scaling the world's highest summits.