Four-year-old girl becomes youngest to reach Mount Everest base, shattering a world record

The first Instagram post by Zara's brother shed light on their preparation for the harsh conditions: "I am currently on vacation and decided, as I did last year, to travel to the Himalayas. The big difference this year is that my sister Zara is with me. Despite being only four, she's doing remarkably well, just as I am. It's no surprise, given she's already endured a 1,367-mile trek through the jungle, which, I might add, is an entirely different challenge compared to the steep trails in the Himalayas. While the walk here is certainly pleasant, the jungle is undeniably tougher! We have already crossed three saddles and covered several miles".

Zara's brother kept followers updated on their progress throughout the expedition. His life hasn't been without hardship either, as he survived a serious dog bite in 2022. Despite the near-death experience, he continues to live life to the fullest.

His second post about their Himalayan journey outlined the conditions they encountered: "Today I reached my 25th 16,404-foot summit, and Zara reached her first. We've covered over 93 miles so far. The journey has been relatively simple, barring a few minor hiccups, such as the cold and biting both outside and within our sleeping quarters. Food and shelter are readily available, and some individuals can carry our belongings if required".

"We'll continue our journey to the Everest base in the coming days. It's only a few more miles. We're currently resting at 8,202 feet, but by tomorrow we hope to be at 9,186 feet, and the day after at 8,366 feet. The base is a further 1.86 miles from there. Barring the bone-chilling temperatures, ranging from -59 to -13 Fahrenheit, the weather forecast looks promising, with plenty of sunshine and minimal wind".

Zara's brother announced their successful arrival at the base camp on January 7, 2024. This marked a new world record, breaking the previous one held by a five-year-old from India. "Zara, four years and five months old, arrived at the base camp of Mount Everest (known as EBC) on January 1, 2024, at an altitude of 10,367 feet above sea level, entirely under her own steam. She is currently making her way back. When completed, the total length of the trek will exceed 167.77 miles, with a total elevation gain of over 65,617 feet. Conditions are wintry, with temperatures well below zero. On January 1, the temperature at the base camp dipped to between -4 and -13°F".

To prepare for the expedition, Zara scaled several 16,404-foot peaks. Thanks to this training, she faced no acclimatization issues. Brought up in the Malaysian jungle, Zara was accustomed to challenging physical activities. After preschool, she would hike between 3.1 to 6.2 miles daily, with elevation ranging from 984 to 1,968 feet. In 2023, she covered over 1,367 miles in the jungle. Her ability to withstand cold temperatures was bolstered by never bathing in warm water.

Zara currently resides in Malaysia with her parents and seven-year-old brother. The bilingual girl has dual Czech and Canadian citizenship and is fluent in Czech, Chinese, and English.