Alyssa with a big goal and big vision has touched the top of the world. With her share of setbacks, she has never wavered in her determination. No stranger to success, nor record breaking, Alyssa was just eight years old when she became the youngest person to cross the Kokoda Track.
Her drive? A love of being in the mountains. With quiet determination and a no fuss can do attitude she dreamed of summiting Mt Everest.
It was the Queensland teenager’s third attempt to reach the summit after natural disasters struck out two previous attempts. In 2014, while she was at base camp an avalanche struck the Khumbu Icefall, killing 16 Sherpas. In April 2015, she was again at base camp when Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake killing 3,218 people.
Alyssa is a quietly determined individual. With her ‘can-do’ attitude Alyssa gets in and gets the job done. Her mental and physical strength is that of someone much wiser than her years and she is forever grateful for the support and care given to her by those around her.
TRIPLE J
This morning, I walked away from the Take 5 feeling so inspired. We had just had the privilege of spending the best part of an hour with a young woman who was so passionate, strong, grounded, and cool, that I felt like I could take on anything.
Toowoomba local Alyssa Azar is only 18 years old, but she’s already accomplished more than most of us could only dream. Currently in training to become the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest, this intrepid mountaineer has already conquered some of the world’s highest peaks. But with that big one in sight, she’s training tirelessly to smash the current record of 21 years old.
In fact, she’s already tried… twice. Her most recent attempt at the climb was only a few weeks ago, when the Nepal earthquake and subsequent avalanche hit. She was at Base Camp when it came down on her, and she told us of that experience, putting all the physical and mental training she’d prepared into action to survive, and then help others.
No doubt the physical exertion she would feel on these climbs would be immense. But does she ever think of giving up? No way. And one of the things that helps her centre and get through is music. So, sharing five songs that get her over that wall, we cranked the volume and got hell fired up.
The Music
Hilltop Hoods – Walking Under Stars – while training, upbeat, inspiring, achieve anything you set your mind too.
Metallica – Nothing Else Matter – this is the one path and nothing else matters
Eminem – Till I Collapse – I’ts raw and it’s real. Willing to go till I collapse, keep pushing myself no matter what happens
Lorde – Glory and Gore – you can take anything on
Bliss n Eso – Glory’s Midnight – lyrics that make you want to go out and chase your dream
And to Sum it all up…
Is there an ideal age? Mountaineering is about character, you never know until your tested. I’ve never felt disadvantaged by age, I will work twice as hard, I want to prove that I can be strong climber as well. It’s all a learning process, I don’t think there is ever a perfect time to take anything on its all learning process.
Testing of commitment, when the opportunity is there I want to be ready to go for it.
‘What drives you?’
‘A love for being in the mountains, if you can find what you love to do, when you’re passionate about it, you put your all in.’
