A deafblind student has started climbing a 6,000 metre Himalayan peak as she aims to become the first person with the condition to summit Everest.
Karolina Pakenaite, 28, from Merseyside, was told her vision and hearing would decline over time after being diagnosed with a rare, degenerative condition known as Usher Syndrome at the age of 19.
She decided to embark on a series of exploits to create visual memories before her vision and hearing fade completely so that she can cherish them for the rest of her life.
Last week (Thursday November 14), she started climbing Mera Peak – a 6,476m (21,246ft) snow-capped summit dubbed Nepal’s highest trekking peak, in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas.
Earlier this year, the PhD student ticked off several warm-up challenges, including climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales as well as running the London Marathon and doing a winter mountaineering skills course.
Speaking from Nepal on the first day of her climb, Karolina told PA Real Life: “I’m incredibly excited, though I feel a bit nervous too because I really want this climb to go well.”
“This is an essential step toward my ultimate goal, summiting Everest in 2026.
“It will help develop my confidence with using crampons, ice axes and fixed ropes, which are crucial for technical climbs.
“It’s also a valuable opportunity to build rapport with my climbing team and learn about each other’s strengths, limitations, and communication and navigation styles for my deafblindness.”
While putting her climbing skills to the test, Karolina is also finishing her PhD in computer science at the University of Bath.
“Right now, I’m balancing two mountains – Mera Peak and my PhD,” she said.
“I couldn’t bring my laptop due to weight restrictions, so I’m editing my thesis on my phone.
“I hoped to finish it before the climb but it’s not quite there yet. I’m determined to make progress even on this expedition, as I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Karolina was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome type 2A after going to the opticians for what was supposed to be just a new pair of glasses in 2015.
The condition, which only affects about 10,000 people in the UK, means Karolina experiences tunnel vision and night blindness, and therefore relies on sighted guides or her beloved guide dog Bosley to get around.
“I was initially really sad about my diagnosis but the future looked much brighter if I had many memories to look back on,” she said.
“I’ve met quite a few people with this type who have lost all their sight and hearing.”
Karolina arrived in Nepal on November 9 2024 accompanied by “seasoned guides” Susan Thapa Magar and Mingma Tenzing Sherpa from HST Adventures, who have both previously summited Everest.
“The HST team includes Nepalese and British members connected to the army including Ghurkas, soldiers, veterans and trainees,” she said.
They were supposed to catch another flight to Lukla, a small town in the Himalayas, to begin their ascent but the aircraft was grounded due to poor weather.
Fortunately, conditions improved so Karolina was able to reach the starting point and begin her 16-day ascent on Thursday November 14.
Most of the climb involves trekking over a glacier which requires using crampons and an ice axe but is considered not too technical.
The final section is a little trickier however as climbers must scale a snow dome using an ascender on a fixed rope.
Karolina and her team have taken extra precautions as they are expecting harsh conditions near the summit.
“We’ll be using crampons, ice axes and various technical climbing devices like ropes and harness,” she said.
“Climbers typically don’t wear down suits – a type of mountaineering suit – for a 6,000m peak.
“But we’re preparing for winter conditions, so we’ll be using down suits for our summit camp at 5,780m.
“I’m looking forward to testing my endurance and understanding how my body handles the altitude, all of which are vital in my preparations for Everest.”
Next, Karolina will take on Mount Kenya in January 2025, Africa’s second highest mountain at 5,199m (17,057ft).
She is also planning on running an ultra marathon in Scotland in May 2025 before returning to Nepal and attempting to summit Himlung Himal which is 7,126m (23,379ft).
Provided all goes well, Karolina is hoping to climb Mount Everest in April 2026 and become the first deafblind person to reach the summit.
In total 6,664 people have reached the summit of Mount Everest as of January 2024, according to the Himalayan Database.
But it is believed Karolina would become the first deafblind person to accomplish this feat.
“I completed a 5,000 metres trek previously, and now it’s time to go higher and attempt Mera Peak at 6,476 metres,” she said.
“After that, I’ll aim for 7,000 metres next year, gradually building my endurance and skills.”
Karolina has launched a fundraiser to help raise funds for the mental health charity Millimetres 2 Mountains and Guide Dogs.
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