Tshering Choden, a 37-year-old mountaineer from Chongay, Gangtok in Sikkim, successfully scaled Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), the highest peak in Europe, on 5 July 2026. She reached the summit at approximately 7:30 am local time, according to the Sikkim Mountaineering Association (SMA). The ascent marks her second successful climb in the Seven Summits challenge, after she had summited Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), Africa’s highest peak, in August 2025.
Who Is Tshering Choden?
Tshering Choden is an engineering graduate from the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT) who discovered her passion for mountaineering after completing the Basic Mountaineering Course at the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism (IHCAE) in Chemchey, South Sikkim. IHCAE, established in 2009, is the first institute of its kind in the entire Northeast region and is recognized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), headquartered in New Delhi.
Her mountaineering journey began with her first major international expedition in August 2025, when she successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. That climb gave her the confidence to set her sights on the Seven Summits, one of the most demanding challenges in global mountaineering.
Mount Elbrus: Europe’s Highest Peak
Mount Elbrus is a dormant stratovolcano standing at 5,642 metres above sea level, making it the highest mountain in Europe and Russia. It is located in the Caucasus Mountains, approximately 100 km from the Black Sea and 370 km from the Caspian Sea, in the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, near the border with Georgia.
The mountain has two summit cones, both of which are dormant volcanic domes. The western summit (5,642 m) is the taller of the two, while the eastern summit (5,621 m) is slightly lower. The first recorded ascent of the eastern summit was made in 1829 by Khillar Khashirov, a Circassian guide, while the western summit was first climbed in 1874 by a British expedition led by F. Crauford Grove.
Elbrus is one of the Volcanic Seven Summits and ranks as the tenth most prominent peak in the world. Its snowfields cover approximately 138 square kilometres and feed 22 major glaciers, which give rise to rivers such as the Baksan, Kuban, and Malka.
Mount Kilimanjaro: Choden’s First Summit
Before conquering Elbrus, Choden had summited Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in August 2025. Kilimanjaro is a dormant stratovolcano in Tanzania and is Africa’s highest peak. It is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising approximately 4,900 metres from its base. The highest point on the mountain is Uhuru Peak, located on the Kibo volcanic cone. Kilimanjaro is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is also part of the Seven Summits list.
What Are the Seven Summits?
The Seven Summits is the name given to the highest mountain peaks on each of the seven continents. Conceived in the 1980s by American mountaineer Dick Bass, who completed the challenge in 1985, it has since become one of mountaineering’s most prestigious achievements. Fewer than 600 people worldwide are estimated to have completed all seven summits.
There are two widely accepted versions of the list. The Bass list uses Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) for Australia, while the Messner list (favoured by the climbing community) uses Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m) in Indonesia for Oceania. Many climbers summit both to settle the debate.
| Peak | Continent | Elevation | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everest | Asia | 8,849 m | Nepal/China |
| Aconcagua | South America | 6,961 m | Argentina |
| Denali | North America | 6,190 m | USA (Alaska) |
| Kilimanjaro | Africa | 5,895 m | Tanzania |
| Elbrus | Europe | 5,642 m | Russia |
| Vinson Massif | Antarctica | 4,892 m | Antarctica |
| Carstensz Pyramid / Kosciuszko | Oceania / Australia | 4,884 m / 2,228 m | Indonesia / Australia |
Choden has completed two of the seven so far: Kilimanjaro (Africa) and Elbrus (Europe). She still needs to summit Aconcagua, Denali, Everest, Vinson Massif, and either Carstensz Pyramid or Kosciuszko to complete the challenge.
The first Indian woman to complete the Seven Summits was Premlata Agrawal, who achieved the feat in 2013. Other Indian women who have accomplished this include Kaamya Karthikeyan (youngest female globally) and Muthamil Selvi Narayanan.
Significance of the Achievement
Choden’s accomplishment is notable for several reasons. As a mountaineer from Sikkim, a state in the Himalayan region with a strong mountaineering tradition, she continues a legacy that includes legendary climbers like Sonam Gyatso, the first Sikkimese to climb Mount Everest, after whom the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute (SGMI) in Gangtok is named.
Her climb demonstrates that training at regional institutes such as IHCAE can equip mountaineers for high-altitude expeditions on some of the world’s most challenging peaks. The Sikkim Mountaineering Association, which confirmed her summit, described the achievement as a source of pride for the state and an inspiration for aspiring climbers.
With two summits completed, Choden now faces the more demanding peaks in her journey: Everest (8,849 m), the world’s highest mountain; Aconcagua (6,961 m), the highest peak outside Asia; and Denali (6,190 m), known for its extreme cold and technical difficulty. Completing the remaining five peaks will require significant funding, advanced training, and careful logistical planning.
Key Takeaways
- Tshering Choden, a 37-year-old mountaineer from Chongay, Gangtok (Sikkim), summited Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), Europe’s highest peak, on 5 July 2026 at 7:30 am local time.
- Mount Elbrus is a dormant stratovolcano in the Caucasus Mountains of southern Russia near the Georgian border, and is one of the Seven Summits.
- This was her second Seven Summits climb, following her ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), Africa’s highest peak, in August 2025.
- She completed her Basic Mountaineering Course at the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism (IHCAE) in Chemchey, South Sikkim, which was established in 2009 and is recognized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).
- The Sikkim Mountaineering Association (SMA) confirmed her achievement, highlighting it as a proud moment for the state.
