American businessman Richard Bass landed in the record books in 1986 by becoming the first person in the world to climb the highest peaks from each continent, also known as the "seven summits". On that list are some of the most iconic mountains in the world: Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mount Denali in Alaska.
For many mountain climbers, though, it is the seven second summits, aka the second highest peak on each continent, that are considered a more significant feat. These mountains are less famous, less commercialized, and less popular with novice climbers. The most famous of the group is the treacherous K2, which is located on the border of China and Pakistan in the Karakoram Range.
Only one person in the world has officially climbed all seven of the second summits, but there is someone hot on his heels to complete the historic set. Her name is Jenn Drummond and she is not what most people think a mountaineer looks like, according to ABC 7 News. Drummond is a mom of seven who lives in Utah and she did not start climbing until she was already in her thirties.
Coach presented Seven Second Summits challenge to Drummond
She decided to take her hiking skills to the next level with her 40th birthday on the horizon in 2020. Drummond hired a climbing coach that year with the goal of summiting Ama Dablam, a mountain that is located in Nepal.
After reaching the peak of that mountain, Drummond's coach presented a new challenge for her to conquer. According to Drummond, her coach recommended the Seven Second Summits. The coach said the challenge was perfect for her as she has seven children and there are seven continents for her to go to.
The task is not easy to say the least as climbing mountains requires a lot more than physical training. It did not help matters that the COVID-19 pandemic threw the entire world into disarray. Apart from Drummond having to home school her kids, international border closures also made it impossible for her to travel, according to CNN.
Drummond targeting K2 this summer
Drummond started her quest in Chile. Once the country reopened its doors to the world in fall 2021, Drummond headed there to climb the famed Ojos de Salado, the first of her seven peaks. She has so far climbed Mount Kenya, Mount Tyree, Dykh-Tau, and most recently Mount Logan in Canada. Drummond is planning to scale K2 in summer 2022.
Drummond's dream of climbing the seven second summits has turned into a slightly longer project due to some disagreement about which count as the official seven peaks. The second highest peak in Australia is Mount Townsend which is located in New South Wales.
Geographers, though, consider Australasia and Oceania as part of the continent, meaning that the second summit should be Sumantri in Indonesia's West Papua province. To make sure Drummond's record is indisputable, the Utah mom said she plans to climb both.
