Bianca Adler: 17-Year-Old Australian Who Dared to Dream Big
At just 17 years old, Bianca Adler from Melbourne, Australia, has already achieved what most climbers only dream of.
She holds world records, has summited multiple high-altitude peaks, and recently attempted to become the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest. Her story begins in the French Alps and leads to the world’s highest mountain.
Growing Up in the Mountains
Bianca’s love for mountains started early. She spent eight years of her childhood in Annecy, a town in the French Alps, surrounded by beautiful alpine peaks. The stunning mountain scenery inspired her dream of one day climbing in the Himalayas.
Her parents, Paul and Fiona, valued outdoor experiences and made sure their family spent lots of time in nature.
They went hiking, rock climbing, on multi-day kayaking trips, canyoning, skiing, and biking together. While none of it was at a professional level, it gave Bianca a strong foundation in outdoor activities.
When Bianca showed enough interest in climbing, she started going on bigger, more challenging climbing expeditions with her father. As she gained more experience, her climbing skills gradually improved, and she discovered a true love for the mountains.
The early days weren’t easy. When she first started climbing big, technical peaks in the French and Italian Alps, Bianca always felt like the youngest and slowest person on the mountain. But every time, she somehow managed to push through and complete the climbs.
A Mountaineering Family
Bianca’s passion for mountaineering runs in the family. Both her parents are accomplished climbers who have already climbed Everest.
Her mother, Fiona, summited Mount Everest in 2006, while her father, Paul, reached the top in 2007. This gave Bianca unique insight and support as she developed her own climbing ambitions.
When the family moved back to Melbourne, the flat landscape didn’t stop Bianca from dreaming of climbing big high-altitude peaks. She continued to gain experience by climbing overseas in the Andes, the Alps, and the Himalayas.
Building Experience and Breaking Records
Bianca’s climbing career took off as she tackled more challenging mountains. She has summited several high-altitude peaks and broken two world records, including a Guinness World Record. These achievements only strengthened her passion for mountaineering.
However, not every climb was successful, and sometimes failure taught her the most valuable lessons. In April 2024, Bianca attempted to climb Ama Dablam (6,812 meters), but injured her knee while climbing a steep ice section and couldn’t reach the summit. At the time, it felt like a complete failure and broke her heart.
But this setback became a turning point. Bianca rebuilt the strength in her knee and returned to Ama Dablam in October 2024. This time, she reached the summit and broke the world record for the youngest female to do so. This experience showed her that she could bounce back and overcome setbacks that had once seemed impossible.
Not only that On the 25th of September same year, she reached the summit of Mt Manaslu at and became the youngest woman in the world to summit this peak.
Training for Everest
Bianca’s training for Everest was intense and focused. For two years, she dedicated herself to long cardio and strength training sessions. Recently, she and her father squeezed in as many multi-day hikes in the Australian Alps as possible to prepare their bodies for hiking 10-15 hours at a time with heavy packs for multiple consecutive days.
One of their final training hikes was the Buller Huts Loop, a 100-kilometer trek with 5,500 meters of vertical climbing. The route is normally completed in 5-7 days, but with limited time off from school, they completed it in just over three days. The days were very long, often stretching well into the night, but both felt healthy, fit, and comfortable on the hike.
The Everest Expedition Timeline
On March 28, 2025, one week before departure, Bianca was officially ready to leave Australia for the expedition. By April 2, 2025, all final preparations were completed, with gear packed and last-minute training sessions finished.
The next day, April 3, Bianca and Paul departed Australia and flew to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. On April 5, they met up in Kathmandu with their group of 11 friends and family members who would be trekking to Everest Base Camp with them. During their time in the city, Bianca spent time shopping for trekking gear, working out at the gym, and doing schoolwork.
On April 6, the first day of the trek began with a helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, followed by an 8-kilometer walk to Phakding at 2,600 meters. The next day, April 7, they continued from Phakding to Namche Bazaar, where they could already feel the effects of thinner air.
On April 8, a rest day in Namche Bazaar included a four-hour hike to the Everest View Hotel at 3,800 meters, where they caught glimpses of Mount Everest in the distance. On April 11, the trek continued from Namche to Deboche, also at 3,800 meters, with visits to monasteries and opportunities to meet climbing friends.
After weeks of trekking and acclimatization, Bianca and Paul reached Camp 1 on April 28. Paul reported that Bianca was doing very well, although he felt quite tired. On May 19, they progressed to Camp 2 at approximately 6,500 meters, leaving early in the morning to avoid the intense heat of the Western Cwm.
On May 21, Bianca climbed from Camp 3 to Camp 4, a long and difficult day that took most climbers between 8 and 11 hours. Paul remained at Camp 2, dealing with a persistent cough and illness.
The Summit Attempts
On May 21-22, 2025 Bianca’s first summit attempt began at 6:30 PM local time from Camp 4 at 8,000 meters. However, strong winds and heavy snow forced her to turn back after reaching about halfway to the summit.
On May 23, 2025After resting at Camp 4, Bianca made a second summit attempt, leaving later at 10:20 PM to avoid stronger winds and get more daylight. Unfortunately, she was too exhausted from the previous night’s 10-hour effort and had to turn back again.
During these attempts, Bianca spent three nights and almost four days in the “death zone” at 8,000 meters or above, where oxygen levels are so low that people cannot survive for prolonged periods.
The Difficult Decision
At 8,450 meters – just 400 meters below the summit – Bianca made the difficult decision to turn around. The winds were extremely strong, and she could feel her hands and toes going numb, the first sign of frostbite. Snow was blowing everywhere, and visibility was nearly zero.
“I always want to choose life over a potential summit,” Bianca later explained. “I felt strong, like I could summit, and was devastated.”
Coming Home
On May 24-25, 2025: Bianca descended from Camp 4 to Camp 2, where she reunited with her father, then continued down through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall to Base Camp.
Both Bianca and Paul were diagnosed with mild HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema) and were advised to fly out rather than walk down due to their conditions.
On May 26, 2025 The family flew by helicopter from Base Camp to Kathmandu, where they received medical treatment at a hospital before being discharged to recover at their hotel.
Ending the everest journey for this year on may 30, 2025 After 57 days in Nepal, the family departed for Australia.
Lessons and Future
Though Bianca didn’t reach the summit of Everest, her attempt was remarkable for someone so young. She pushed herself mentally and physically to extraordinary limits and gained invaluable experience. Her story demonstrates that mountaineering isn’t just about reaching the top it’s about making smart decisions, pushing personal boundaries, and learning from both successes and setbacks.
Bianca’s journey from a young girl inspired by the French Alps to a world-record-holding mountaineer attempting Everest at 17 shows the power of family support, dedicated training, and the courage to pursue extraordinary dreams. Her attempt to inspire others to get outdoors and embrace discomfort continues, regardless of whether she reached Everest’s summit.
