Summits of the Seven Continents Climbed by Women. The first to succeed in climbing to the summits of all seven continents was 54-year-old Texan Richard Bass when he reached the top of Everest in 1985. He completed the “smaller” series, which included Mount Kosciusko, the highest in Australia. Canadian Pat Morrow made his last ascent, Vinson Massif, in 1986 and became the first to complete the “big series,” which includes Carstensz Pyramid, the highest point in Australasia. Since then, more than twenty men have completed the achievement. It was not until 1992 that a female, 54-year-old Japanese climber Junko Tabei, scaled the highest point of all seven continents. On June 28, she ascended Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya). Her first conquest was in 1975, when she climbed Everest. This was followed by Mont Blanc (1979), Kilimanjaro (1980), Aconcagua (1987), McKinley (1988), Elbrus (1989), Vinson Massif (1991) and Carstensz Pyramid (1992). At the time of publication, it is likely that a second woman will have become the second woman to have completed the series. Dr. Christine Janin is now in Argentina, planning to climb her last, Aconcagua.

JóZEF Nyka, Editor, Taternik, Poland