Gülnur Tumbat

Tumbat began mountain climbing at age 17 in the Mountaineering & Winter Sports Club of the METU.[3][8] She was on the top of more than 30 high-elevation mountains in Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Nepal, Argentina, and the US so far.[7] Her doctoral thesis was on the subject of marketing and consuming risk.[4] To study the subject, she joined a group of mountain climbers at the main camp at Mount Everest in 2004.[2][3]

Her goal is to be the first Turk and Turkish woman to climb the "Eight Summits",[6] an extension of the Seven Summits with addition of Mount Carstensz in the Oceania continent. The first Turkish seven summiter is Nasuh Mahruki. Only twelve women in the world have completed the ascent to the "Eight Summits" to date.[2][8][10]

Gülnur Tumbat climbed the McKinley (6,194 m), Aconcagua (6,959 m), Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), Elbrus (5,642 m), and Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m).[5] She notes that her most challenging ascent was to Aconcagua, the highest point in South America, where she climbed solo and without the assistance of a professional mountain guide or a team.[2][7]

In April 2014, her attempt to climb Mount Everest failed as the ascent to the summit was officially barred after a major avalanche killed more than ten mountaineers at 5,800 m elevation.[10][11] She was not hurt by the accident.[9][10] In July 2015, she ascended Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m),[8] completing her fifth summit of the "Eight Highest Peaks", in a group of six mountaineers from South Korea, Australia, France and Sweden.[6][12]

On May 21, 2018 she became the first Turkish woman to summit Mount Everest from the Nepal side, known in Nepali as Sagarmāthā and in Tibetan as Chomolungma, the Earth's highest mountain.

Tumbat participated in the 2010 Marin County Triathlon finishing 33rd overall and 5th in her age group.[13] Since 2010, Gülnur Tumbat has been taking part at ultramarathon competitions in California, where she lives. Her achievements are:[1][14]