Meet Bianca Adler, 18, who turned back near Everest summit then made history

Bianca Adler, an 18-year-old from Melbourne, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the youngest Australian to summit Mount Everest. On May 27, 2026, at approximately 2:20 a.m. Nepal time, she reached the 8,849-meter peak alongside her guides, Pemba and Ngdu. This accomplishment marks a personal triumph after a previous attempt in May 2025, which ended 400 meters short of the summit due to hazardous weather conditions. Adler's journey to this achievement began years before she set foot on Everest. Growing up in the French Alps, she developed a deep connection with the mountains at an early age. By her teenage years, she had already set notable records, including becoming the youngest woman to summit both Manaslu (8,163 meters) and Ama Dablam (6,812 meters) at the age of 16, according to ABC News. However, Everest presented a unique challenge. During her first attempt in May 2025, she reached an elevation of 8,450 meters before being forced to turn back due to severe weather conditions. The decision to retreat was difficult but necessary. Adler described the situation in a post on Instagram, noting that visibility was nearly nonexistent due to heavy snowfall and that her extremities were beginning to suffer from frostbite. “I couldn’t see anything; there was snow blowing everywhere,” she wrote. “It was an extremely tough decision, but I always want to choose life over a potential summit.” Despite the setback, she attempted again the following night but was overwhelmed by fatigue. Both she and her father, Paul, were diagnosed with high-altitude pulmonary edema and dehydration during that expedition. Undeterred, Adler embarked on a year-long preparation phase. She trained extensively, focusing on physical conditioning and mental resilience. In April 2026, she and her father returned to Nepal, spending a month acclimating on various peaks and resting at Base Camp for a week. They required repairs to their climbing gear and favorable weather conditions before attempting the summit again. Their plan included an early departure at 1 a.m., navigating through the treacherous icefall, resting at Camp 1, and proceeding to Camp 2 where Paul would remain. After two nights, Adler continued her ascent, leaving Camp 4 around 6 p.m. under subzero temperatures. During the summit push, Adler communicated with her father via radio, expressing her physical condition despite the harsh environment. “I feel really good, but the weather is really bad,” she stated. “I feel really good up here actually, like physically I feel great,” she told Paul, who was stationed at Camp 2 in similarly extreme conditions. Paul relayed her message, emphasizing the danger of the situation. “She said she was very cold, it was windy but she felt OK, and they were going to take some pictures quickly and get out of there... It’s extremely dangerous up there and you feel very nervous for your life,” he shared. Adler’s mother, Fiona, who was the third Australian woman to summit Everest, commented on the significance of the early summit time. “She is there well before the masses of people still on their way up... This is important for safety as it’s meant that she’s been able to climb at her pace and not get stuck and get cold in a long queue,” Fiona noted. After reaching the summit, Adler began her descent. By early morning, she had returned to Camp 4, still within the “death zone” where oxygen levels are insufficient to sustain human life for prolonged periods. In a brief audio clip, she admitted to feeling unwell but emphasized the importance of continuing forward. “I feel pretty awful, but I still have to go to Camp 2,” she said, struggling for breath. “I’m just resting, I’m just trying to take it one step at a time.” She reflected on the difficulty of the descent, acknowledging its challenges while affirming the success of the endeavor. Her father expressed confidence in her ability to complete the journey safely.