KATHMANDU: I (Emine Cakir) was born and raised in Eastern Anatolia, in the eastern part of Turkey—a land of high mountains, cold winters, and strong winds. It’s also home to Mount Ararat, the legendary resting place of Noah’s Ark. Since I was a child, I’ve felt a deep connection to the mountains. They were not just places to climb, but something greater—something sacred.

My true passion began in 2010, when I climbed Mount Ararat at the age of 25. I wasn’t fully prepared, but I made it to the summit. That experience changed me forever. I felt small next to the mountain, but also powerful—as if I was not just standing on it, but part of it. The mountain was big, but I was big too. That moment lit a fire in me and opened my heart to something new.

After that, I moved to Austria and fell in love with the Alps. My journey took me across the world—first to South America, where I climbed many 6,000-meter peaks in Peru and Bolivia, then to Africa, where I summited Kilimanjaro in 2021.

In 2023, I climbed Lenin Peak (7,134m), my first 7,000-meter mountain. I already had experience at high altitude, but this mountain was on a different level. It tested my limits. It was there that I met the Sherpas of Nepal and connected with Pemba Jangbu Sherpa, the owner of I AM Treks and Expedition in Kathmandu. His words stayed with me and inspired me to visit Nepal. That decision changed my life.

In 2024, I left my job as a teacher to follow the mountains full-time. It wasn’t easy, especially financially, but I knew I had to listen to my heart. That autumn, I spent over three months in Nepal, where I climbed Island Peak, Lobuche Peak, and Ama Dablam.

Then came a big step: Manaslu (8,163m), my first 8,000-meter mountain. The climb was intense. The weather was unpredictable, the glacier was shifting, and the path was dangerous in places. But I was in good hands. My Sherpa, Nima Tendi Sherpa—who has climbed 8,000-meter mountains 15 times—guided me safely to the top. It was his fourth time climbing Manaslu with me.

Manaslu is called “the mountain of souls,” and it truly felt like that. When I stood on the summit, I felt a deep peace. I felt that we are loved, that life carries us, and that we are never alone.

I believe I may be the first Kurdish woman to climb an 8,000-meter mountain. But for me, climbing is not about records or numbers. It’s about the spirit. The mountains have taught me so much—patience, strength, surrender. They remind us that we don’t conquer nature; we walk with it. It is the mountain that allows us to reach the top.

Next year, I hope to try Everest. The cost is high—gear, permits, logistics—but I continue to follow the mountain’s call. One step at a time.

“Up there, above the clouds, there are no borders. No flags. No fear. Only breath, silence, and the beating of your own heart. The mountain asks nothing, but gives everything—if you’re willing to listen.”