Nothing Is Impossible: Samar Khan on the Power of Belief and Big Mountains
Every year, the Summit Scholarship Foundation helps open doors that too often stay closed to women: doors to wild places, to transformative adventure, to the belief that yes, you belong out here.
This story is one of those moments.
In January 2025, Samar Khan from Pakistan stood on the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. She carried not just her own dreams, but the hopes of girls and women from communities where big mountain adventures can feel impossibly far away. Samar’s expedition was the capstone of her Summit Scholarship journey, and made possible thanks to the sustaining commitment of our outdoor industry partners— Fjällräven, Nite Ize, and LOWA - as well as gear contributors LEKI, Deuter, CAMP, Julbo, Petzl, and Skratch Labs—who continue to believe in the power of access, representation, and equity in the outdoors.
We’re honored to share Samar’s reflections on the climb, the challenges that led her there, and what it means to break new ground on behalf of those still finding their way to the trailhead.
Q&A with Samar Khan
Congratulations on summiting Aconcagua! What did it feel like to stand on the highest point in the Americas?
Climbing Aconcagua had been a distant dream for over three years, something I deeply wanted to turn into reality. As a Pakistani adventure athlete, the biggest challenge I face whenever I prepare for a new climb is not fitness, knowledge, or equipment — it's always funding. Securing enough support to book flights, climbing services, permits, and insurance has always been the toughest part. So, securing the fully funded climb by AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation was a huge opportunity and when I finally stood on the summit with my exhausted body, I felt extremely emotional and empowered at the same time, for me it was the universe’s way of saying that nothing is impossible if you put your mind and soul into it.
What drew you to Aconcagua?
After climbing Kilimanjaro and Elbrus, Aconcagua was the next challenge I set for myself. I wanted to push my limits in terms of altitude, endurance, and extreme cold, which would bettter prepare me for tackling other peaks in the Seven Summits. Aconcagua also stood out to me because I don’t see many Pakistanis, especially Pakistani women, on that mountain. In a male-dominated field, I’ve had to constantly prove myself as a competent athlete. Yet, I still face social restrictions and criticism, with many saying I’m not good enough and should stop calling myself an athlete. I firmly believed that summiting Aconcagua would not only change things for me, but also inspire young girls in Pakistan who have been conditioned to think that mountain sports are not for them.
Earlier, my biggest fear and goal was to snowboard on one of the Seven Summits, which I was able to accomplish in 2025 by snowboarding down Mount Elbrus. Although I had been climbing and snowboarding many 5,000-meter peaks in the Karakoram mountains for years, Elbrus was different. It demanded strong physical strength and snowboarding skills, but after that, I realized that Elbrus was just a stepping stone. Aconcagua, on the other hand, was my real introduction to BIG mountains. It’s vast and stunning, and it demands everything an athlete or mountaineer can offer: physical strength, nerves, courage, and an unwavering belief in oneself. Climbing Aconcagua gave me a glimpse of even bigger peaks and the challenges they present. I highly recommend that aspiring mountaineers attempt Aconcagua before pursuing 8,000-meter peaks.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced on the mountain—mentally, physically, or logistically?
Training in the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan had given me confidence in my strength and endurance. However, based on my research, I knew that Aconcagua was going to be my ultimate test, especially since I decided to climb it without Diamox to see if my body could handle reaching 6,961 meters.
Unlike my previous expeditions, I carried my own luggage and set up my camps by myself, which was both a challenge and an opportunity to level up. For me, the other major challenges were:
The carry day from Camp 1 to Camp 2: During this stage, our entire group was caught in a sudden snowstorm, and it became extremely cold and windy. My summit jacket was inaccessible, and I was shivering all the way to Camp 3.
The constant fear of losing a weather window for the summit push: It was a constant test of my nerves because it felt like a "now or never" situation for me, especially considering I had come all the way from Pakistan, taking on a $4,000 debt for my flight ticket. I was praying for clear and sunny weather for the summit push.
Carrying my own gear down to the basecamp: My main focus was on a successful summit, and I didn’t realize that carrying a 26kg (57 pounds!) backpack down would be the hardest part of the expedition — harder even than the summit push itself. But through it all, I emerged from Aconcagua stronger than before.
Can you tell us about a moment on the expedition that will stay with you forever?
After returning to Camp 3 from the successful summit, while everyone else was resting in their tents, I stepped outside to refill my water bottle. That's when I was struck by the most beautiful sunset. Extremely exhausted, I slowly made my way to the edge of the mountain. My face was sunburned, and my eyes were heavy, but I stood there in complete silence for what felt like an eternity watching the orange, red and purple colors in the sky as if the sun was celebrating my success and embracing me with warmth. And I captured that moment in my phone to be cherished all my life; magical Andes bathed in golden rays.
You’ve broken ground as a Pakistani woman in adventure sports. How did it feel to bring that identity to Aconcagua and the other side of the world?
At every camp, and during each encounter with international athletes and mountaineers, I had the opportunity to share my experiences & stories about the mountains and culture of Pakistan. Many mountaineers were surprised to learn about our vast mountain ranges and the fact that Pakistani women are climbing big peaks. However, I was there to grow, learn more and get inspired to do bigger things. It felt both like an honor and a huge responsibility to represent my country and to showcase the strength and grace of a Pakistani woman on Aconcagua. That’s why, when I finally stood on the summit, I was overwhelmed with joy.
How did the Summit Scholarship support shape your expedition experience, if at all?
It was only because of the Summit Scholarship’s support that I was able to reach Aconcagua and climb with professional, high-quality gear. Imagine, a woman who used to climb peaks in second-hand attire and borrowed equipment was now equipped with top-tier expedition gear from brands like Fjällräven, LOWA, Nite Ize, Deuter, Leki, CAMP USA, Julbo, and Petzl.
For the first time, I was also introduced to proper sports nutrition, including sports drinks and protein bars from Skratch Labs. In my previous climbs, I would rely solely on basic meals and water, so this was a game-changer.
Another major shift was starting the expedition with female guides. They took care of logistics, offered guidance, and corrected me when needed, all without judgment. That sense of support and comfort made a world of difference. All of these factors came together to make my summit successful, and I’ll always be deeply grateful for that.
Any advice you’d give to other women—especially from Pakistan or underrepresented regions—who dream of big mountain adventures?
Women, no matter which country they’re from, are often not given equal opportunities due to the male dominance in mountain adventures. That’s why we have to work twice as hard to prove our capabilities and strengths in order to secure sponsors, media coverage, brand endorsements, and other opportunities. I’ve lived this reality every single day.
But the only way forward is to start your journey with whatever you have in hand, educate yourself more, train hard, acquire the right skills and you’ll outshine and outgrow; the right people will eventually connect with you and you’ll be able to build your tribe and accomplish your goals.
What’s next for you? Any new goals or dreams on the horizon now that you’ve stood atop Aconcagua?
All the strength and confidence I built during the Aconcagua climb will now fuel my journey to climb and snowboard my next Seven Summit, Denali; one of the most challenging mountains in an incredibly remote part of the world: Alaska.
Now that I have a deeper understanding of my capabilities and strengths, I feel ready to take even bolder steps in my adventures and shift the narrative for Pakistani women who aspire to build careers in mountain sports. I hope to set another example for women from conservative communities, showing them that there are NO LIMITS to what they can achieve, if they believe in themselves!
Samar’s Aconcagua journey was guided by AWExpeditions, whose women-led expeditions create space for courage and growth in the world’s most remote corners. Her scholarship was created by the Summit Scholarship Foundation, an initiative now proudly part of the GEA Alliance alongside our long-time partner The Cairn Project as we work together to expand access to meaningful adventure.
👉🏽 If you loved Samar’s story, you can hear more like it on the See Her Outside Podcast, where we celebrate voices that too often go unheard in the outdoors.
👉🏽 And if you’re more of a reader, don’t miss out on Grit Lit - a quarterly subscription box of women’s adventure books that helps fund the Summit Scholarship Program!
To our partners, supporters, and every one of you who believes in making room on the mountain: thank you. Because of you, bold dreams like Samar’s don’t just stay dreams—they rise all the way to the summit.
