How Aretha Duarte Experienced Reaching Everest's Summit
The mountaineer recalls the 11-hour summit push, seeing Lukla from 8,848 meters, and the emotion of reaching the top.
Aretha Duarte shares the final moments of her ascent of Mount Everest, from the nighttime departure out of Camp 4 to 15 unforgettable minutes at the top of the world. Her summit was marked by gratitude, tears, and breathtaking views.
Reaching the highest point on Earth at 8,848 meters requires immense physical strength, but standing on the summit of Mount Everest is, above all, an overwhelming emotional experience. On the XTREMMA Sports show, mountaineer Aretha Duarte recalled in vivid detail the emotions and practical challenges of the final hours of her journey toward the roof of the world.
The night push from 8,000 meters
The decisive push began at 11:30 p.m., when Aretha left Camp 4, situated at the 8,000-meter mark, in pitch darkness and extreme cold. It was nearly 11 hours of non-stop climbing. To ensure her phone would have enough battery to record at the summit, she kept it protected and warm inside the pocket of her down suit for almost the entire ascent.
The device only left its shelter when the summit appeared before her eyes, roughly two to five minutes away from the highest point. In that final stretch, the certainty of her achievement allowed her to capture the first video clips before taking the final step.
Tears, prayer, and fulfillment at the top of the world
Aretha reached the summit around 10:30 a.m. under completely clear skies. Her first gesture upon reaching the milestone was kneeling in the snow to recite a biblical passage and give thanks.
The mountaineer shared that a flood of memories rushed through her mind, recalling everyone who helped turn the project into reality. The moment brought laughter, tears, and a profound sense of representation.
She stayed at the summit for about 15 minutes. From the top, Aretha stood above every other mountain and a sea of clouds, even managing to spot the runway of Lukla Airport, the starting point of the entire journey through the Khumbu Valley.
Filming in the death zone with Sherpa Pasang
Without a dedicated film crew on the final stretch, Aretha relied on the support of Sherpa Pasang and filmed everything herself. Even with her lips nearly freezing from the extreme cold, she managed to record brief video messages documenting the historic arrival.
Her strategy of keeping her phone warm against her body prevented the device from freezing, allowing her to preserve the most defining moments of her triumph at the highest peak on Earth.