At the frozen, wind-lashed summit sealed off by glaciers that is Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, there would be a moment of pure grit. From the lush hills of Arunachal Pradesh, 27-year-old mountaineer Kabak Yano unfurled the Indian tricolor at 22,831 feet (6,961 meters) above sea level. By doing so, she not only scaled a mountain, but demolished glass ceilings for women in adventure sports and carried a piece of Northeast India to the roof of the Americas.
This wasn’t just another climb. It was a chapter of an audacious mission called the 7-Summit Expedition, a dream to summit the tallest peak on each continent. For Yano, Aconcagua was a formidable “Stone Sentinel” which put her to the test far more through soul-searching than simple physical exhaustion in thin air and freezing cold.
The Woman Who Did It: From Pasighat to Andes
Kabak Yano’s tale is as much about human resilience as it is climbing. Born on September 5, 1999, in the north-east state of Arunachal Pradesh, her journey to scale the world’s highest mountains was charted in the crucible of personal adversity.
In 2022, Yano’s father, a casual laborer, died. Overnight, the new breadwinner for her family, she landed in a series of jobs that others might consider unconventional — acting as a bouncer, assisting in a beauty parlor and working in the clothing trade all to work her way through school and chase her dreams. She is now a post graduate student of the Fitness Management at Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in Pasighat, and her journey has proved indeed – your beginning does not dictate from where you summit.
A Pioneer of the Nyishi People
Yano’s climb of Aconcagua is another entry on her burgeoning list of “firsts.” She was the first woman from her Nyishi community to climb Mount Everest (in May 2024) and now becomes the first to summit South America’s tallest peak. Her story will inspire the youth of Arunachal that our ‘Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains’ can produce athletes to compete at international level.
The Trials of the “ Stone Sentinel “
Even though it’s cold and high, Mount Aconcagua is not respected as much as you’d expect because of the “non-technical” label. But any experienced climber will tell you that the mountain is a deceitful giant.
- The Atmosphere Extreme Altitude: The atmospheric pressure is much lower at almost 7,000 meters than it is at sea level. It feels like I’m running a marathon with every step being taken in parallel while breathing through a straw.
- White Wind: Aconcagua is renown for its White Wind, an occurrence which can cause fast wind speeds and unexpected blizzards that plummet the temperature to -30 in a matter of minutes.
- The Canaleta: The last portion to the summit is a climb of the Canaleta, which consists of loose rock and is a test of both strength and will.
For Yano, who had already reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa) and Mount Elbrus (Europe) in 2025 August, Aconcagua posed a whole new level of challenge in physiological terms and for him in time period.
A Faith-Flagged Off Journey
Flag-off of the 7-Summit expedition was held on July 28, 2025 by Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd). The Governor was one of the first to congratulate her on conquering Aconcagua.
His words echo an increasing feeling in India that adventure sports have become not just amusements but also causes for national pride and personal redemption.
What’s Next for Kabak Yano?
Having now conquered Everest, Kilimanjaro and Elbrus, with Aconcagua just crossed off her list, Yano is a little more than halfway through fulfilling her “7-Summit” dream. The remaining challenges include:
- Denali (North America): Its extreme cold and remoteness are its calling cards.
- Vinson Massif (Antarctica): A walk through the meanest wilderness on Earth.
- Puncak Jaya (Oceania): A technical rock climb in the Indonesian jungle.
The Impact on Indian Mountaineering
Yano’s feat happens at a time when mountaineering is experiencing an increased female participation in India. With the climb of Aconcagua, she becomes a member of an exclusive club of Indian climbers who have gone up Andean High.
Final Thoughts – The Arunachal Spirit
When we see the images of Kabak Yano standing on top of Aconcagua, we don’t just see a climber. We behold the daughter of a laborer who moonlit as a bouncer in order to pay her outgoings. And now here is a woman who would not allow grief or financial struggle to hold her down.
Kabak Yano has reminded us that you don’t scale the highest mountains by wielding an ice axe and crampons – you do it with a heart that refuses to surrender. And as she gears up to tackle her next continent, the eyes of India — and in particular those of the people of Arunachal Pradesh — will watch out for Yano, knowing that taxi girl proved to all that when it comes to her, sky is not the limit but destination.
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