Legendary climbers Alina Pekova and Karina Mezova conquered KBSU

“Better than mountains can only be mountains that you have never been to before” — the truth of these words from Vladimir Vysotsky’s song, which became an aphorism, was once again confirmed by the fragile but strong-willed girl climbers Alina Pekova and Karina Mezova at a meeting with students of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University University named after Kh. M. Berbekov October 23, 2023.

The meeting was held at the initiative of students and teachers of the Institute of Management, Tourism and Hospitality Industry of KBSU, but it was attended by friends of the famous climbers, their colleagues and sports public figures. On behalf of the university management, the acting climbers greeted the famous climbers. Rector of KBSU Murat Gukepshokov.

Let us note that the merits of girls in world mountaineering are very significant. Thus, from April to October of this year, Alina Pekova conquered 11 of the 14 highest peaks of our planet, including Everest. Karina Mezova has two ascents of Everest and a number of other highest peaks under her belt.

The girls told the students how they became climbers.

I grew up in the family of a mountain instructor and a skier. I spent my entire childhood in the mountains. While studying at the university at the Faculty of Economics, I entered the Faculty of Additional Professions and chose mountain tourism. We went hiking and climbed. I really liked mountaineering, a team sport where everyone helps each other. After university, the guys abandoned this business, and I turned it into my profession,

— shared Karina Mezova.

And for me it all started in 2017, when I wanted to climb Elbrus,” said Alina Pekova. – It became my first peak. These sensations that I experienced then were incomparable. Complete delight. And then I wanted to continue. I began, as they say, to gain height. I climbed six thousand meters like Kilimanjaro, then seven thousand meters like Aconcagua. I had the dream of climbing Everest immediately after Elbrus. And later, having gained some experience, I realized that I could try to climb other eight-thousanders,

Annapurna, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Nangaparbat, Broad Peak, K2, Gasherbrum, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Cho Oyu — behind these names of 8-thousanders, which Alina Pekova climbed, there are months of grueling preparation.

“The body must get used to the altitude. Acclimatization takes place gradually,” explains Alina Pekova.
The eminent guests answered numerous questions from listeners. What is easier: going up or going down? Karina Mezova explained that mistakes often happen on the descent because a person gives himself the wrong psychological attitude. If the goal was to reach the top, then, as a rule, the descent will be difficult. You need to prepare yourself for the fact that you must go all the way to the end — ascend and descend.

The students were also interested in which ascents were difficult, what difficulties the climbers encountered during the expedition, whether they get altitude sickness, whether their intuition helps them, and how their families view their line of work.

The climbers named the weather conditions, which are extremely changeable in the mountains, as the most difficult obstacle. Mountain sickness also happens and manifests itself in different ways. Intuition is very helpful in making the right decision. The girls find full support in their families.

So that the students could at least imagine how mountain climbers work, the girls brought some of the professional mountaineering equipment — a jumar, used in belay equipment for climbing and descending vertical railings, a fragment of a climbing rope and gloves — tops, in which climbers have to perform all the complex manipulations with the equipment.

“Besides the movement itself, there are many things to pay attention to. Risks can never be fully calculated,” — emphasized Karina Mezova.
At the end of the meeting, Aksana Karasheva, director of the Palace of Creativity for Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, addressed the girls climbers who have glorified their native republic throughout the world with wishes of good luck and conquering new heights.

And the famous singer Khusen Shalov noted:

In the mountains the soul is purified. I wish you to rise spiritually to the same heights.