Alena Aitova, known in Tashkent as Alena Volchica and recognised for leading mountain tours through her company Wolf Travel, has successfully climbed Island Peak in the Himalayas on the Nepal–India border. Reaching 6189 metres, she set a historic milestone as the first woman from Uzbekistan to summit the mountain.
Island Peak, also known as Imja Tse, is a key stage on the route towards Everest and ranks among the most challenging climbs in the region. It demands acclimatisation to high altitude, strong physical conditioning and advanced technical skills. The final push to the summit crosses glaciers and steep snow and ice slopes with gradients of 50 to 65 degrees.
Climbers use a jumar on fixed ropes during the ascent, while the descent is made with a figure-eight belay device. These conditions mean Island Peak is far from a simple trekking route and is instead regarded as a serious technical challenge for mountaineers.
