KATHMANDU: Nepali mountaineer Omnika Dangol has successfully summited Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in South America at 6,962 metres, marking her fifth of the coveted Seven Summits and bringing her closer to completing one of mountaineering's most celebrated challenges.

Dangol reached the summit on February 1, 2026 at 3:40 pm, but the achievement came at a steep cost. The push from Camp 3 to the summit and back took a gruelling 26 hours, during which she and her team battled freezing temperatures, high winds and dangerously thin air. On the descent, the team was caught in a severe snowstorm and lost their route in whiteout conditions before finally reaching Camp 3 safely.

"Despite the immense physical and mental challenges, Omnika stood strong," her team said in a statement, crediting her determination for seeing the expedition through.

Dangol's path to Aconcagua has been defined by a series of historic achievements since she first trekked to Everest Base Camp in 2021 and, by her own account, fell in love with the mountains.

In 2022, she made history as the first flight attendant in the world to summit Mount Everest. She also holds the distinction of being the first Nepali woman to summit Carstensz Pyramid. Prior to her Everest climb, she scaled Mera Peak, Lobuche and Island Peak within just nine days — an early sign of the pace and determination that has since defined her mountaineering career.

With Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro, Carstensz Pyramid and now Aconcagua behind her, Dangol has two summits remaining, Denali in North America and Mount Vinson in Antarctica, to complete the Seven Summits.

Throughout her journey, Dangol has dedicated her climbs to supporting senior citizens, adding a philanthropic dimension to her personal quest.

She expressed gratitude to her parents, friends and supporters, and extended special thanks to Elite Expeditions and expedition leader Tejan Gurung for their support throughout the Aconcagua climb.

Omnika is a senior flight attendant of Himalaya Airlines.