Cheryl and Nikki Bart have just become the first mother and daughter duo to climb Mount Everest.
They reached the 8850-metre summit of the world's tallest mountain just before 9am Sydney time on 24th May. The remarkable pair - dubbed "Oz Chicks With Altitude" on their website - set out for their latest adventure on April 1. They have now climbed the tallest peak in each of the seven continents. Mrs Bart and her 23-year-old daughter received oxygen as they took in the view from the top of the world.
The eastern suburbs pair had to contend with delays on their trek - aside from minus-30 degree temperatures and a lack of oxygen - including stopping for the Olympic torch relay. Their communications gear was temporarily confiscated amid the tight security surrounding the relay.
Mrs Bart, a mother of two, lawyer and board director, says on the website that she enjoys heliskiing, snowboarding and rock climbing. Nikki is a sixth-year University of NSW medical student and co-chairwoman of the Medical Students' Aid Project, which donates medical equipment and pharmaceuticals to Third World hospitals. She spends her spare time volunteering on charitable projects, skiing, snowboarding and participating in outdoor sporting competitions.
The Barts have already climbed Australia's Mount Kosciuszko (at 2228 metres), Antarctica's Vinson Massif (4892 metres), South America's Aconcagua (6962 metres), Africa's Kilimanjaro (5895 metres), North America's McKinley-Denali (6194 metres) and Europe's Mount Elbrus (5642 metres).
"Sometimes we are mother and daughter and other times we are like sisters."
www.womensownadventure.com.au
