Click here to read the full feature! <\/a>A lot has happened over this rather eventful year, lives have moved forward, people changed, even professions flipped, but Jaahnavi remains as determined as ever. We catch up with Jaahnavi over a phone call about her upcoming expeditions and her recent trip to Mount Everest Basecamp with 28 other kids. <\/p>
\"I've been steadily preparing myself to climb the Everest next year,\" she says, \"I've been basically giving myself this year to prepare for that fully, physically, mentally and financially.\" <\/p>
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Taking on the Everest is one of the toughest challenges on the planet, yet the force of will that humans possess has pushed us into even the most remote of locations. Standing at 8848 meters, 8.5 kilometres straight upwards, it is the tallest mountain on the planet, beating its fellow Himalayan mountain K2 by 200 meters. The appeal of conquering the tallest mountain in the world has drawn to it, for many years, a steady stream of thrill seekers and those in search for themselves amongst the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. The climb to the summit takes a tremendously large amount of time, fraught with risks of being buried in the snow, falling, the biting cold, lack of oxygen and more. <\/p>
But Jaahnavi, a veteran of 4 peaks, is confident she will make it, \"My father has been training me since I was very young and I'm already used to such extreme conditions,\" she said, \"the bigger challenge would be to be prepared physically and mentally.\" <\/p>
She went on to explain that preparing for a mountaineering expedition required one to be strong head to toe, \"It's not like athletics where you need to focus your strengths in specific areas, you need to be fit from head to toe for a mountain, and this is the biggest of them all,\" she laughs.<\/p>"},{"type":"img","id":"img-uid-1510740664614","data":"5a0c17ab48c41"},{"type":"txt","id":"rich_1510740667342","data":"
\"My father has been the biggest source of inspiration throughout my life,\" she says. Dr. S. Krishna Rao, her father, began training her at the tender age of just 10 months old, \"He's accompanied me in my climbs and has been a constant source of positivity and encouragement throughout the time I've been doing this. Honestly, he is what keeps me going.\" <\/p>
From becoming the youngest person to climb Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, to becoming the youngest guide at the Everest Basecamp, Jaahnavi has broken records consistently over the years. With her expedition to The Everest scheduled for March 2018, the expedition - which she says will take 2 months to finish - will become an example to young people across the country and indeed, across the world. We here at stuMagz wish her all the best and hope to see her conquer the remaining 3 mountains on her list, starting with the big one itself! <\/p>
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