Mumbai’s Saanika Shah: She Danced Her Way To The Everest Summit! | Buzz By The Bay

Mount Everest has long represented the ultimate human challenge. Our guest on this episode is a member of Gen Z who made headlines for a very different, non-political reason. On May 20th, 22-year-old Saanika Shah—an endurance athlete, mountaineer, and dancer from Mumbai—stood on top of the world after successfully summiting Mount Everest. What’s more, she even performed a Bharatanatyam dance on her way to the peak. She first set her sights on Everest at the age of 17 and spent the next five years training relentlessly. But it was only when she actually climbed the mountain that she realized just how life-threatening the expedition could truly be. In this episode, she shares the raw story of her entire 45-day journey—the physical hardships, mental battles, absolute exhilaration, the harsh reality of overcrowding on the mountain, and the massive financial cost of reaching the top of the world. #MountEverest #SaanikaShah #BuzzByTheBay 00:00:00 - Introduction & Highlights 00:01:19 - Welcome Saanika Shah: The 22-Year-Old Mountaineer 00:02:22 - The 5-Year Journey & What Inspired Her to Climb Everest 00:04:15 - Manifesting the Dream & Overcoming the Fear of the Mountain 00:07:22 - Saanika's Previous Records (Himlung Himal, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus) 00:07:44 - Intense Physical Training & Sleep Deprivation in Mumbai 00:11:01 - Managing Diet, Acclimatization, and Street Food for the Mountain 00:13:01 - Performing Bharatnatyam at the Everest Base Camp (17,500 Feet) 00:16:08 - Climbing with Elite Expeditions & The Backbone Role of Sherpas 00:17:01 - Facing the Mental Battles & Life-Threatening Risks of Everest 00:19:19 - Close Call on the Descent: Freezing Mask & Low Oxygen 00:21:00 - The "Mountain of Delays": Overcrowding & Traffic in the Death Zone 00:24:25 - The Massive Financial Cost of an Everest Expedition 00:25:28 - 45-Day Expedition Breakdown: Acclimatization Rotations & Camps 00:28:16 - The 21-Hour Summit Push & Standstill Traffic at Hillary Step 00:29:38 - Witnessing Dead Bodies & Battling Early Frostbite 00:32:56 - The Decision to Push Forward vs. Turning Back 00:34:58 - Managing Menstrual Cycles & Personal Hygiene at High Altitudes 00:40:08 - Navigating the Deadly Khumbu Icefall & Crevasses 00:43:06 - Dealing with Heartbreaking News of Fellow Climbers 00:46:11 - Staying Motivated for Family on the Descent 00:46:32 - What's Next for Saanika & Advice for Young Mountaineers Welcome to The Free Press Journal – Trusted News Since 1928 Delivering reliable, unbiased, and in-depth journalism for over 96 years. Stay informed with the latest in breaking news, politics, business, entertainment, sports, health, and more—straight from one of Mumbai’s oldest and most respected English dailies. 📲 Subscribe for real news, real stories, and real impact. #FreePressJournal #FPJ #BreakingNews #IndiaNews #TrustedJournalism Subscribe To Our Channels: Website: https://www.freepressjournal.in Social Media Links Facebook:   / freepressjournal   YouTube:    / @thefreepressjournal   YouTube Shorts:    / @thefreepressjournal   Twitter: https://x.com/fpjindia Instagram:   / freepressjournal   Telegram: https://t.me/freepressjournal Follow The Free Press Journal Channel On WhatsApp The Free Press Journal E-Paper Is Now Available On Your Android Phones & Tablets At No Cost To Download The App: https://www.freepressjournal.in/get-apps