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

In the pre-dawn darkness of Mount Everest, 18-year-old Bianca Adler became the youngest Australian to reach the summit. After an eight-hour climb from Camp 4 at 8,000 meters, she and her guides, Pemba and Ngdu, reached the 8,849-meter peak. Bianca's journey began in her teens, having already set records as the youngest woman to summit Manaslu and Ama Dablam.

However, her first attempt in May 2025 ended when dangerous weather forced her to turn back after 400 meters. She made another attempt a week later but had to turn back due to exhaustion and altitude-related issues. After a year of training, Bianca and her father, Paul, returned to Nepal in April 2026. They spent a month acclimatising before the final push to the summit, which she completed around 6pm.

Despite the harsh conditions, Bianca felt good physically, but her concern was for her safety amidst the bad weather. Paul, waiting at Camp 2, confirmed she was doing well and they planned to descend together. Bianca's achievement is especially noteworthy as she took the title from Gabby Kanizay, who was 19 when she reached the summit in 2022.

Bianca has expressed her gratitude for the support from her family and community, and emphasized the importance of setting goals and working towards them. She still has her final year of high school to complete, but for now, she can rest on the knowledge that she achieved something extraordinary.