La australiana Milly Young marca un nuevo récord en el Matterhorn

Milly Young, a 35-year-old Australian mountaineer from Kojonup in southwestern Australia, set a new women’s record on Mount Everest's iconic peak, the Matterhorn, completing the climb and descent via the Italian normal route in five hours, 17 minutes, and 43 seconds. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Swedish climber Emelie Forsberg, who had completed the same route in five hours, 52 minutes, and zero seconds back in 2013. The climb began on July 22 from Cervinia, Italy, with Young starting her ascent at 11:30 AM, avoiding potential delays caused by traffic congestion around fixed ropes and technical sections. She reached the summit after three hours, 21 minutes, and 54 seconds, marking a remarkable pace. The climb was largely solo, though she received support from her partner, Rhys MacAllister, who assisted her during the upper part of the mountain as a tempo setter. Young described the conditions as nearly perfect, noting that both her physical condition and mental state were optimal, allowing her to feel a rare sense of harmony during the challenge. Young emphasized that while the route was relatively smooth, she faced challenges due to insufficient water and carbohydrates, making the descent particularly demanding. To prepare, she had tested the route during a reconnaissance trip just over two weeks prior. Despite this preparation, she admitted that better knowledge of the terrain would have helped her determine when to push harder and when to conserve energy, especially during the descent. As a trail running and sky running expert, Young specializes in technically challenging high-altitude tours that require endurance, climbing technique, and alpine experience. Her efforts aim to inspire other women to take on ambitious projects. She expressed pride in seeing what women can achieve on the Matterhorn, highlighting the importance of such feats in pushing boundaries. Meanwhile, Italian sky runner Nadir Maguet attempted to break the men’s record on the same day. He reached the summit in two hours and three minutes, completing the entire journey in three hours, one minute, and 48 seconds. However, he fell short of the record previously held by Spanish climber Kilian Jornet, who achieved the feat in 2013 in three hours, 10 minutes, and 48 seconds. Maguet’s attempt underscores the competitive nature of these records, even as they remain unbroken. Mountains like the Matterhorn are known for their distinctive pyramid-like shape, which offers both visual appeal and physical challenge. From the Swiss side, the Hörnligrat route is considered quite difficult, featuring rock climbs up to grade III. In contrast, the Italian normal route via the Liongrat is regarded as more demanding, with technical climbs reaching grade III+. The current record for the Hörnligrat is held by Zermatter guide Andreas Steindl, who completed the route in two hours and 57 minutes from the Kirchplatz in 2018. Both Young and Maguet’s attempts highlight the ongoing pursuit of excellence in extreme sports, driven by personal ambition and the desire to inspire others. Their achievements reflect the dedication required to master some of the world’s most challenging terrains. As the climbing community continues to push limits, future records will likely be shaped by similar determination and skill.