If we try to forget the fact that Anjali is a girl and hence not strong or capable enough to climb so far on her own, then yes, there have been solo climbers before who went all the way to the summit. They were experienced climbers of course, but Anjali has determination and courage, two factors that can help even an average person achieve greatness in any endeavour.
Anjali did follow the tracks of the rescue team, they showed that several times, that shes walking on the same tracks left behind by Abhyankar's team.
Its the safest way to climb, the crampons (spiked boots) leave behind deep tracks in the ice and that shows the secure path to tread as that means there are no ice chasms, crevasses, thin ice or other dangers along the path that the team already went on.
Mountaineers always follow the leader during an expedition and they stay on the tracks on ice made by the leader. That way they can avoid most dangers.
Arjun fell into the chasm because he stepped out of line.
Anjali must have left the camp a couple of hours after the team, she reached them as she didnt stop much on the way, whereas Abhyankar and his men stopped many times along the way.
They stopped at the serac where those huge blocks of ice almost fell on Arjun and Akash, then they stopped to cross the crevasse one by one, where Nima fell.
They stalled there to mourn for Nima, then they stopped 3-4 times more to receive calls from base camp and Nasir, they stopped to discuss whether they shd go ahead...
So yes, so if we count the number of stops they made and compare it to Anjali's speed, then she did manage to catch up with them as her main objective was to speed up and reach them.
Edited by pallavi25 - 10 years ago
