Mountaineer Arjun Vajpai, Life-Saving Sherpas & ‘The Big 8k Dream’

Watch Arjun Vajpai and his father talk about the mountaineer’s many expeditions, including the one to Kanchenjunga.

Arjun Vajpai is the youngest Indian to climb six peaks over 8000m in height. His aim is to climb all 14 mountains that are above 8000m.

(Photo: The Quint)

“He has climbed many great mountains but always managed to come back home with his 10 toes and 10 fingers intact,” says a beaming Sanjiv Vajpai as we meet his son Arjun Vajpai near the base camp of the Kanchenjunga.

The 24-year-old had just summited the third-highest mountain in the world, on his second attempt, successfully becoming the youngest mountaineer to climb six out of the 14 peaks that are above 8000 metres.

“You don’t conquer a mountain, the mountain allows you to climb it,” is the zen-like approach Vajpai has to his expeditions having had near-death experiences on his climbs.

The Kanchenjunga was no different. After pulling out midway from his attempt to climb to mountain from the Nepal side in 2017, he returned this April to successfully summit on 20 May at 8:15 am IST.

But Arjun may not have been able to make the journey back to the base camp had it not been for a sherpa.

Watch the video as Arjun and his father talk about the young mountaineer’s current and past expeditions.

Video Editor: Puneet Bhatia
Expedition Footage Courtesy: Mountain Dew