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Our names are Delia and Iulia and we are identical twins. When we started high altitude mountaineering nobody thought we could do it. We had no experience in mountaineering not having ever been at high altitude, rock climbed, ice climbed or even slept in a tent before - all critical skills for high altitude climbing.
Iulia and I were living in San Francisco, a city known for its rolling hills and iconic landmarks, but far enough from high altitude mountains that we weren't immersed in that environment. At the time, we both worked in management consulting, a very intense career that had us traveling constantly. Our lives were fast-paced and mountaineering was an ambitious stretch goal given our demanding work schedules. One day, in need of a break from the intensity of work and a new landscape, Iulia came to me with the idea to go to Africa - do a safari, see the gorillas, and climb Kilimanjaro. Despite our lack of mountaineering experience, we were eager to embrace this new adventure. We planned the trip a few months in advance with two close friends, but with our busy schedules, we didn't have much time for specific training. We rented most of the necessary gear, secured a knowledgeable guide, and opted for the scenic Machame route up the mountain. The Machame route is a popular choice known for its "trek high, sleep low" profile, which aids acclimatization. |
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Kilimanjaro - the rooftop of Africa - was the first mountain we climbed with the first tents we slept in - ever. The concept of "pole pole" (slowly slowly) became our mantra as we navigated the terrain, taking one deliberate step at a time. Each day with each step we got closer to the top. From this experience we learned about the connection between mind and body and how to push forward when things are tough. We also learned of the danger mountains pose when our friend got seriously ill from altitude sickness and had to be carried on a stretcher down the mountain.
But, on October 2017, at the age of 29, my sister and I stood triumphantly atop the 5,895-meter (19,340 feet) summit. The breathtaking scenery, the camaraderie, and the sense of accomplishment we felt sparked something within us. We were forever changed by the experience.
But, on October 2017, at the age of 29, my sister and I stood triumphantly atop the 5,895-meter (19,340 feet) summit. The breathtaking scenery, the camaraderie, and the sense of accomplishment we felt sparked something within us. We were forever changed by the experience.
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ABOVE - MT. KILIMANJARO: Click to enlarge photos (Photo Credits: Iulia Jaso and Delia Wookey)
At one of the camps, the guide asked if we were doing the Seven Summits. That was the first we heard of this famous mountaineering challenge - summiting the highest peak in each continent. We laughed. That night, though, under the blanket of stars and the flapping tent, curiosity got the better of us. Our minds drifted into the realm of possibility and vision-building, thinking about visiting all of the continents, meeting the locals, pushing ourselves, and sharing those experiences together as sisters.
The next trip we planned was to celebrate New Year's Eve in Australia and climb Kosciusko, Australia's highest peak. At a modest 2,282 meters (7,486 feet), Kosciuszko is the smallest of the Seven Summits - an accessible starting point for aspiring climbers. But its 18-kilometer (11-mile) trek demands patience and persistence.
We planned the one-day hike as part of a larger adventure filled with hobbits, hang gliding, paragliding, and encounters with koalas and kangaroos. Standing atop Mount Kosciuszko, we absorbed the panoramic views of the Australian Alps, with their unique biodiversity of alpine plants and rare endemic flowers. It was here, amidst the raw and ever-changing landscapes, that our thirst for wild nature blossomed. If Kilimanjaro was the spark, Kosciusko was the dried kindling beneath the fuel that was the Seven Summits. Little did we know how much our lives would be fundamentally changed and how our resolve to pursue the Seven Summits challenge would solidify.
When we did more research and found there was another mountaineering challenge, the Seven Volcanic Summits, and that the youngest person to complete both sets of Seven Summits was 35 years old. Iulia and I realized we could potentially finish by 33 and not only be the youngest in the world but also the first Romanians, first women, and first twins to achieve this mountaineering feat. The thought of inspiring others, especially women, to chase dreams that might seem impossible fueled our ambition even further. We decided to climb the mountains in increasing order of difficulty, training relentlessly at home, and pushing our personal boundaries.
Our next challenge was Mount Elbrus, the tallest peak in Europe, towering at 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) in the heart of Russia. The ascent was estimated to take up to nine hours, and the unpredictable weather conditions added an extra layer of complexity. Elbrus is a formidable mountain, perpetually cloaked in glaciers, ice, and snow. It demands technical mountaineering skills, even on its easiest route, requiring ropes, harnesses, crampons, and ice axes. This was a baptism by fire into the world of technical climbing. We learned the ropes (literally!), use of crampons and ice axes, and understanding the critical importance of self-arrest techniques in the event of an avalanche or a fall.
The next trip we planned was to celebrate New Year's Eve in Australia and climb Kosciusko, Australia's highest peak. At a modest 2,282 meters (7,486 feet), Kosciuszko is the smallest of the Seven Summits - an accessible starting point for aspiring climbers. But its 18-kilometer (11-mile) trek demands patience and persistence.
We planned the one-day hike as part of a larger adventure filled with hobbits, hang gliding, paragliding, and encounters with koalas and kangaroos. Standing atop Mount Kosciuszko, we absorbed the panoramic views of the Australian Alps, with their unique biodiversity of alpine plants and rare endemic flowers. It was here, amidst the raw and ever-changing landscapes, that our thirst for wild nature blossomed. If Kilimanjaro was the spark, Kosciusko was the dried kindling beneath the fuel that was the Seven Summits. Little did we know how much our lives would be fundamentally changed and how our resolve to pursue the Seven Summits challenge would solidify.
When we did more research and found there was another mountaineering challenge, the Seven Volcanic Summits, and that the youngest person to complete both sets of Seven Summits was 35 years old. Iulia and I realized we could potentially finish by 33 and not only be the youngest in the world but also the first Romanians, first women, and first twins to achieve this mountaineering feat. The thought of inspiring others, especially women, to chase dreams that might seem impossible fueled our ambition even further. We decided to climb the mountains in increasing order of difficulty, training relentlessly at home, and pushing our personal boundaries.
Our next challenge was Mount Elbrus, the tallest peak in Europe, towering at 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) in the heart of Russia. The ascent was estimated to take up to nine hours, and the unpredictable weather conditions added an extra layer of complexity. Elbrus is a formidable mountain, perpetually cloaked in glaciers, ice, and snow. It demands technical mountaineering skills, even on its easiest route, requiring ropes, harnesses, crampons, and ice axes. This was a baptism by fire into the world of technical climbing. We learned the ropes (literally!), use of crampons and ice axes, and understanding the critical importance of self-arrest techniques in the event of an avalanche or a fall.
ABOVE - MT. ELBRUS: Click to enlarge photos (Photo Credits: Iulia Jaso and Delia Wookey)
The first day was tough. My feet ached and were bruised from the unfamiliar double boots. The Russian guide's dismissive laughter when I voiced my discomfort did little to ease my concerns. By the eve of the summit push, my feet were swollen and black with bruises, each step a painful reminder of the challenge ahead.
In a blur I made it to the top. The feeling of accomplishment was quickly tempered by one of our friends succumbing to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a serious disease that can be fatal. We helped with his evacuation and stayed with him through his hospital treatment. I struggled with a mix of emotions - the exhilaration of summiting Elbrus, the concern for our teammate, and the joy of sharing the experience with my sister and friends.
The next mountains on the list - Aconcagua, Everest, Denali - were even more daunting, dangerous, and expensive. With the memories of friends succumbing to altitude sickness, we wondered if we could really do this? We decided to press on, train harder, and face the unknown challenges ahead.
Every weekend was dedicated to training - 5 hours each Saturday and Sunday for running, stair climbing with heavy backpacks, and strength training. We even moved to a farm in Shasta, California for 1.5 months in January to train daily before the Everest expedition. Each weekend we climbed the nearby 14,000-foot Mt. Shasta in winter conditions.
In January 2019 we went to Argentina to climb Aconcagua (6,961m; 22,837 feet), and in May 2021 - after climbing opened again post-COVID lockdown we embarked on the ultimate mountaineering challenge - Everest, the highest peak in the world, standing tall at a staggering 8,848 meters (29,032 feet). It's a feat that demands years of preparation, and even then, success is never guaranteed.
In a blur I made it to the top. The feeling of accomplishment was quickly tempered by one of our friends succumbing to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a serious disease that can be fatal. We helped with his evacuation and stayed with him through his hospital treatment. I struggled with a mix of emotions - the exhilaration of summiting Elbrus, the concern for our teammate, and the joy of sharing the experience with my sister and friends.
The next mountains on the list - Aconcagua, Everest, Denali - were even more daunting, dangerous, and expensive. With the memories of friends succumbing to altitude sickness, we wondered if we could really do this? We decided to press on, train harder, and face the unknown challenges ahead.
Every weekend was dedicated to training - 5 hours each Saturday and Sunday for running, stair climbing with heavy backpacks, and strength training. We even moved to a farm in Shasta, California for 1.5 months in January to train daily before the Everest expedition. Each weekend we climbed the nearby 14,000-foot Mt. Shasta in winter conditions.
In January 2019 we went to Argentina to climb Aconcagua (6,961m; 22,837 feet), and in May 2021 - after climbing opened again post-COVID lockdown we embarked on the ultimate mountaineering challenge - Everest, the highest peak in the world, standing tall at a staggering 8,848 meters (29,032 feet). It's a feat that demands years of preparation, and even then, success is never guaranteed.
One of the Seven Summits, Aconcagua is the tallest peak in South America located in the Andes in Argentina. (Photo Credit: Iulia Jaso and Delia Wookey)
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The 2021 season was particularly brutal, dubbed by some as an "apocalypse of events." The COVID-19 pandemic, two cyclones—Tauktae and Yaas—and a record number of permits, created a perfect storm of challenges. The summit success rate plummeted to a historic low.
We had to change three climbing companies to be able to summit. The final push to the top was a grueling test of physical and mental endurance. We battled fierce winds exceeding 100km/h (62 mph) during Cyclone Yaas, which forced half the teams on the mountain to turn back. An avalanche then devastated Camp 3. Only two teams left camp to push for summit in that window, breaking trail through knee-high snow. With Camp 3 wiped out and no possibility to rest for more than few hours in camp 4, which is in the dead zone at a dangerously high altitude, we faced a relentless 24-hour push to the summit.
Against all odds, we prevailed. My sister and I, alongside our Sherpas, were the first to leave Camp 4 on that final push, experiencing the profound solitude and ethereal beauty of the mountain at night. We witnessed the sunrise over the summit ridge, casting a golden glow across Nepal and China. To say it was awe-inspiring doesn't do it justice, nor can words capture the symphony of emotions - exhaustion, euphoria, gratitude - of reaching Everest's summit. We became the first European Twins and youngest Romanian Women to summit that incredible peak. It was a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of sisterhood.
We had to change three climbing companies to be able to summit. The final push to the top was a grueling test of physical and mental endurance. We battled fierce winds exceeding 100km/h (62 mph) during Cyclone Yaas, which forced half the teams on the mountain to turn back. An avalanche then devastated Camp 3. Only two teams left camp to push for summit in that window, breaking trail through knee-high snow. With Camp 3 wiped out and no possibility to rest for more than few hours in camp 4, which is in the dead zone at a dangerously high altitude, we faced a relentless 24-hour push to the summit.
Against all odds, we prevailed. My sister and I, alongside our Sherpas, were the first to leave Camp 4 on that final push, experiencing the profound solitude and ethereal beauty of the mountain at night. We witnessed the sunrise over the summit ridge, casting a golden glow across Nepal and China. To say it was awe-inspiring doesn't do it justice, nor can words capture the symphony of emotions - exhaustion, euphoria, gratitude - of reaching Everest's summit. We became the first European Twins and youngest Romanian Women to summit that incredible peak. It was a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of sisterhood.
ABOVE - MT. EVEREST: Click to enlarge photos and view captions (Photo Credits: Iulia Jaso and Delia Wookey)
Following that, we summitted Denali (6,190 meters, 20,310 feet) in a record speed of 10 days, despite a strong storm that descended upon the mountain while we were in high camp that made others turn around. The freezing winds pulled the feeling from my fingers, but we summited - the only team who did so that day. On the descent, we navigated through a no-visibility blizzard, reminding us that the summit is only half of the climb.
ABOVE - DENALI: Click to enlarge photos and see captions (Photo Credits: Iulia Jaso and Delia Wookey)
In January 2022 we summited our final peak of the Seven Summits, Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica (4,892 meters, 16,050 feet). Four months later, in May 2022, we summited Damavand in Iran (5,609 meters; 18,402 ft), the last of the Seven Volcanic Summits. With those, my sister and I became:
On that day, when Iulia approached me with an idea to go to Africa, we would have never guessed these accomplishments were in our future. We held concepts of ourselves, our bodies, our lack of experience, that didn't allow for the vision at the time. But there is something about the immensity of mountains, the skies above, and the vistas below that crack limitations in the mind and allow for possibility. Then there is "pole pole" (slowly slowly), one foot in front of the other, that creates the pathway to get there. When you join possibility and "pole pole" with determination, that becomes the recipe for success. This is a recipe that any one of us can make.
- The first Romanian women and second twins to complete the Seven Summits (Bass List).
- At the age of 33, the youngest and the first Romanians to complete both the Seven Summits and the Seven Volcanic Summits.
- And, the first twins to complete the Seven Volcanic Summits.
On that day, when Iulia approached me with an idea to go to Africa, we would have never guessed these accomplishments were in our future. We held concepts of ourselves, our bodies, our lack of experience, that didn't allow for the vision at the time. But there is something about the immensity of mountains, the skies above, and the vistas below that crack limitations in the mind and allow for possibility. Then there is "pole pole" (slowly slowly), one foot in front of the other, that creates the pathway to get there. When you join possibility and "pole pole" with determination, that becomes the recipe for success. This is a recipe that any one of us can make.
ABOVE - MT. SIDLEY: Click to enlarge photos and view captions (Photo Credits: Iulia Jaso and Delia Wookey)
ABOVE - VINSON MASSIF: Click to enlarge photos and view captions (Photo Credits: Iulia Jaso and Delia Wookey)
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The Seven Summits in order of difficulty:
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The Seven Volcanic Summits in order of difficulty:
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