The first Azerbaijani woman to conquer Everest, Elmira Aslanova, has given an interview to Apasport.az.
What did you feel when you climbed Everest for the first time? What excited you the most?
When I reached the peak, I experienced immense joy, but at that moment, the joy was mostly in my mind. I wasn't fully aware yet of what had actually happened. I knew I still had to descend and conserve my oxygen. But I had made a promise to myself that if I ever reached the peak of Everest, I would definitely give myself time to feel that moment. Just to be there, to look around, and to understand that I was on top of the world. And that’s exactly what I did – I simply sat there for 15–20 minutes and tried to etch that moment into my memory forever.
Did you experience anything at the peak that deeply shook or changed you?
While descending from the peak, my oxygen was almost completely depleted. The Sherpa carrying an extra oxygen tank was quite far ahead of me. In that moment, for the first time, I felt a strange sense of unease and fear. I asked myself, “Could I really die here?” I started to pray, and then I tried to calm myself so I could control my breathing and not waste the remaining oxygen. At that moment, I felt a great strength and support within me. I have deep faith in God and believe He always helps me. I felt then, too, that I was not alone. Just as I ran out of oxygen completely, I managed to reach my Sherpa.
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