Mountaineer Priyanka Mohite is raring to conquer more 8000-plus peaks now

At 29, many youngsters are going through a quarter-life crisis, trying to figure out what direction their lives are heading towards. But Priyanka Mohite is not one of them. She has her eyes set in just one direction – upwards!
On May 5, at around 4.30 pm, Priyanka waved the Indian tricolour at 8586 metres above sea level, on the summit of the third highest mountain in the world – Kanchenjunga.This feat made the youngster the first Indian woman to have scaled five eight-thousanders (peaks above 8000 metres). In a chat with us from her hometown, Satara, Priyanka spoke about her journey and the road ahead. Excerpts:
‘Big achievement, but there’s more to come’
Priyanka has been in the news over the last week for her achievement and accolades are coming her way from all corners. However, the young lady is in no mood to stop. “It’s obviously a great feeling to be recognised for this achievement. I am happy. But my focus is on climbing at least four more eight-thousanders in the coming year or two,” says the mountaineer whose first 8000-plus peak itself was Mount Everest, which she scaled back in 2013, at the age of 21!

Of the 14 eight-thousander peaks, five are in Pakistan, and Priyanka says that going there is out of the question right now. So, having scaled Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Annapurna and Kanchenjunga, Priyanka’s eyes are now set on the next two- Dhaulagiri and Manaslu. “I would’ve scaled Dhaulagiri earlier, but I suffered from frostbite on that expedition and had to cut short the climb then,” she says.
‘Knowing your limit is important’
At such heights, amid extremely challenging weather conditions, mountaineers are pushing their physical and mental prowess to the limit. And knowing that limit, Priyanka says, is very important. “I always say that reaching the summit is just half of the journey. You also have to return to the base after that. So, one should know how much their bodies can take. Pushing your bodies beyond limits can be fatal in such conditions,’ she shares. Mount Everest was her first big peak, and it was after that that she decided to undertake the journey of scaling the other major peaks. “There were very few people from India scaling 8000-plus peaks then, and women, even fewer. So that was kind of a starting point for me and I intend to complete this journey,” says Priyanka, who credits her mentor Kailas Bagal for inculcating the love for mountaineering and nature in her since a young age.
‘The Tenzing Norgay Award 2020 was a morale booster’
Priyanka was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2020 at the hands of President Ram Nath Kovind and the youngster cherishes the experience till date. She says, “It was a morale booster. To get recognised for your hard work is a great feeling. At the same time, recognition comes with responsibility. And for me, it’s not just about responsibility while mountaineering, but in public life as well. When people look up to you, one has to be very careful not to hurt their belief and trust in you.” At 29, being an inspiration for many youngsters can be challenging. Ask her what advice she gives people who want to follow her footsteps and she replies, “I always tell them that even though it may seem difficult, you need to start somewhere. Dream big and work hard to achieve those dreams. It’s that simple, if you are disciplined, consistent and dedicated, irrespective of the situation you are in.”

‘I wake up at 5 am and exercise daily’
A lesser-known side of Priyanka is that she is a scientist. She works as a senior research associate in the field of immunology in a Bangalore-based company. Ask her how she manages both her passions and she says, “I balance it out. The scientist in me works from 8 am to 5 pm. I wake up at 5 am dailly and exercise. There’s hardly a day when I don’t exercise. I go on long cycle rides or treks on weekends. My company has been supportive too. Like I said, if you are disciplined and consistent, everything is possible.”

Two things Priyanka always carried to the summit
While pics of Priyanka unfurling the tricolour on every summit that she has reached are popular, pics of her posing with a photo of her pet dog are less known. She shares, “Besides my equipment and necessities, the two things I carry with me on every expedition are the Indian tricolour, and a photo of my late dog Aishu. It’s like creating memories together, and I know Aishu is always watching over me.”