IPS officer Aparna Kumar does India proud, becomes country's first civil servant to complete 'Seven Summits' challenge after conquering Mount Denali

Via an audio recording, IPS officer Aparna Kumar has confirmed that she has completed a stupendous achievement. Aparna, an IPS officer from the 2002 Uttar Pradesh cadre who is currently posted as DIG, ITBP Northern Frontier at Dehradun and her guide Sebastian Grau have summited Mount Denali, Alaska, USA, after attempting to scale to the peak twice before. After ticking this off the list, Kumar has completed the "Seven Summits" challenge, following which she has become the first IPS officer from India to achieve this spectacular and rare feat.

READ | Deaths Rise As Nepal Issues More Permits For Mount Everest

Aparna left for mission Denali on June 15 and was expected to reach the peak by July 10. However, because of good weather and no small measure of spirit and pure dedication she made it to the peak long before the estimated date. 

READ | From Good To Bad: After Voicing For Simba 25 Years Ago, Arvind Swami Cast As Scar In Tamil Version Of 'The Lion King'

Even minus 40 degrees temperature and 250 kmph high-speed icy winds couldn't stop Kumar from reaching her goal. With minimum rest to increase her probability of reaching the peak, and not to be caught in infamous, unpredictable sour weather of Denali. She hoisted the national Tricolour and the Flag of ITBP at the summit, not forgetting her country and affiliation amid the personal achievement. 

Aparna Kumar's next target is to reach the North Pole in Summer of 2020 and complete the "Explorer's Grand Slam"( Seven Summits plus North and the South Pole), which has been achieved by a handful of people across the globe. She has already been to the South Pole.

READ |"All Mountain Railways In India To Have Vistadome Coaches" Informs Railways Minister Piyush Goyal. Details Inside

What is the 'Seven Summits' challenge?

The 'Seven Summits' is the name given to the challenge of climbing the highest point in each of the seven continents. 
The seven summits include Asia's  Mount Everest,South America's Acouncagua, North America's  Denali, Africa's Kilimanjaro, Europe's Mount Elbrus, Antartica's Mount Vinson, Austrailia's Puncak Jayaand and Mount Kosciuszko.