Pearl Going takes aim at Everest & 7 summit speed record

 

New Zealander Pearl Going scored another major milestone in her attempt to be 

the first New Zealand woman and along the way the fastest woman in the world to 

achieve the one of the world’s greatest sporting feats, to climb the seven summits. 

 

After a successful summit of Russia’s Mt Elbrus (5642mtrs) in August, which saw 

her become the frst kiwi woman to tackle the less attempted and more dangerous 

north face route of what is the tallest peak in Europe, just her second ever ascent of 

a mountain. Going, hailing from Northland's famous Going family carried one of 

the most well known names in New Zealand sport to new heights to tick off Africa’s 

highest peak Mt Kilimanjaro (5895mtrs) in a spectacular fashion early November. 

 

While Kilimanjaro may be perceived as the ‘everybody’s’ summit, with it’s relative 

ease of access and lack of requirement of mountaineering skills such as ice 

climbing and rope work, Going’s expedition team set out to achieve a series of frsts 

with the ascent sponsored by SONY NZ, adidas Outdoor and Marmot.

 

“The objective of the expedition was to become the frst New Zealand woman to do 

the full traverse of Kilimanjaro (over 149km) which is something that is rarely done 

as opposed to going up a more travelled route (usually 89km) and it was a more 

challenging way to knock off what many believe to be the easiest of the seven 

summits. 

 

“We began our traverse up the old Grand Traverse Route heading over the 

Lemosho and Shira routes which are highly remote, reaching summit three days 

into the traverse to set a new traverse world record of approx four days and nine 

hours. 

 

“We ascended the summit in a full snow blizzard and fnally made it to the top after 

8 hours of trekking from our campsite the previous evening. 

 

Wanaka based Guy Cotter, the Director of Adventure Consultants,  who is widely

considered the worlds best high altitude coach is the brains and mentor behind 

Going’s mountaineering, coaching her through the overall projects. Cotter has been 

the man behind numerous mountain athletes world frst records leading Annabelle 

Bond to become the fastest woman in the world to scale the seven summits in just 

360 days, at the age of 36yrs. Cotter who was on Mt Kilimanjaro leading another 

expedition, met Going at the summit. 

 

“I was met at the summit by Guy Cotter and Suze Kelly. A few kiwi jokes were 

traded and he gave me a Perky Banana to celebrate, it was a wonderful feeling to 

top out and see them there, I wouldn't be living my dream if it weren't for Guy and 

Suze so to share that moment with them was sensational. 

Going’s climbing schedule is laid out to give her the best possible preparation 

leading into climbing Mt Everest April-June of next year. If successful, 26yr old 

Going will also become New Zealand’s youngest woman to step atop the world’s 

highest peak. 

 

The next summit on Going’s agenda is the highest peak outside of the Himalayas, 

Argentina’s Mt Aconcagua (6962m), in late January 2012.  Along with the ascent of

South America’s highest summit, Going will spend her time in New Zealand based

in Wanaka between peaks further honing her mountaineering skills  with the

Adventure Consultants team, but the challenges of mountaineering are not all skill

and fnesse on the mountain. How one’s body reacts to altitude or injury is one of the

most serious challenges climbers face. 

 

Something Going discovered after sustaining a serious groin injury heading from 

high camp to summit on Mt Elbrus. Going pushed on to summit with an injury, the 

recovery from which has set back her climbing schedule causing her to miss the 

Vinson Mansif season this year. 

 

“I've been very fortunate to have access to one of the best triaining grounds in the 

world in the Southern Alps and I've also discovered that I handle high altitudes 

well. I'm looking forward to the possibility of testing myself around 7000mtrs on 

Aconcagua next month. I've topped out at close to 6000mtrs and not even felt a 

headache so I'm very curious to see what happens to me a bit higher up, it's 

essential for my Everest preparations. 

 

“On the mountain, you are at the mercy of many things, what ever God chooses to 

throw at you. All the skill and preparation in the world can go out the window if the 

weather closes in or your body cannot cope with the pressures that high altitude 

brings. 

 

Following on from Mt Everest, the remaining peaks on Going's schedule to scale 

include; Mt Denali, Alaska, Carstenz Pyramid, West Papua, Vinson Mansif, 

Antarctica along with second ascents of Mt Elbrus & Mt Kilimanjaro to continue 

her quest to break Annabelle Bond’s record of scaling the seven summits in less 

than 360 days and become the fastest woman to do so. 

 

- Maria Steward