Transylvanian Xénia Sántha becomes 1st Hungarian woman to reach the true summit of Manaslu
Xénia Sántha, a 25-year-old climber from Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc), has made history by becoming the first Hungarian woman—and the youngest Hungarian ever—to conquer the 8,163-meter (26,781 feet) high Manaslu peak in the Himalayas.
Undertaking the challenge as part of a 14-member international expedition, Xénia successfully reached the true summit, known as the “Rocky Summit,” a notably dangerous and steep section of the mountain only officially recognised as the summit since 2021.
The Manaslu, located in Nepal’s Mansiri Himal, is the eighth-highest mountain in the world and one of the most challenging for mountaineers. Prior to Xénia’s achievement, Hungarian climbers had only reached a ledge below the true summit due to the lack of fixed ropes and the technical difficulty of the final climb, Maszol reports.
“Thank you to everyone who supported me in any way, thank you for the kind words and for keeping me in your thoughts. In every difficult moment, these pushed me forward. I am grateful to my dear friend Lakpa, who saved my foot from frostbite in the death zone. I am currently in the hospital with 1st–2nd degree frostbite injuries and mild cerebral oedema… But we did it – go Hungary, go Transylvania!”, Xénia wrote in her Facebook post.
Gruelling descent and rescue
Following her summit success, Xénia’s return was deeply exhausting and taxing. She suffered frostbite injuries on both legs and reached the third camp too weakened to continue descending on her own. A helicopter evacuation was arranged to take her to Kathmandu for medical care. She is currently hospitalised in the Nepali capital, with doctors reporting a stable condition and expecting her to recover enough to leave the hospital soon.
A milestone for Hungarian mountaineering
Xénia’s ascent marks a significant milestone in Hungarian mountaineering history. At 25, she is now the youngest Hungarian to have summited this formidable peak and has broken new ground for Hungarian women climbers. Her accomplishment stands alongside Márton Péter Price, the only other Hungarian to have reached Manaslu’s true summit in 2022.