YUMPING: You began climbing at 18. What inspired you to explore mountains and the highest peaks?
ROSA: Friends, the people around me. I’d never thought of the mountains as a sport, but with my husband and friends, I started climbing and fell in love with it.
YUMPING: Your track record is nearly flawless—at 62, you summited an 8,000m peak. How do you approach each challenge today?
ROSA: After 25 years in the high mountains, I still face every challenge with the same excitement as day one, savouring every moment.
YUMPING: But that’s not all... You’ve summited 6 of the 14 peaks over 8,000m. Would you like to conquer at least half of them?
ROSA: Seven is my lucky number, and yes, I’d love to climb another 8,000m peak.
YUMPING: Tell us, what’s been your most demanding ascent so far, and why?
ROSA: Kanchenjunga (8,586m), the world’s third-highest peak. It was after my cancer treatment—my physical condition was nowhere near what it had been two years prior. The treatments were brutal, and I suffered greatly on that mountain. It was my mind that took me to the summit.
YUMPING: How do you prepare physically and mentally for high-altitude challenges?
ROSA: You need peak fitness and a deep understanding of what you’re up against. I’m in the mountains every week—that’s the best training. Always motivated, always excited for the next challenge.
YUMPING: What are the greatest risks and difficulties you’ve faced during expeditions?
ROSA: The hardest part is reaching the base—sorting sponsorships, logistics, etc. Once there, it’s just the mountain and me, doing what I love: climbing.
We all know mountaineering is high-risk, but that doesn’t mean disaster is inevitable.
YUMPING: To cope with fear and risk before a climb... Do you have any rituals or superstitions before a major expedition?
ROSA: I have immense respect, not fear—fear can paralyse you, and that’s the worst thing up there. Before an expedition, I visit the Sanctuary of El Acebo in Cangas del Narcea and La Santina in Covadonga. On the mountain, we always make an offering to the gods before climbing.
YUMPING: Being a woman in most sports comes with constraints. Is that true in mountaineering, or has it opened doors for you?
ROSA: Ironically, my first 8,000m peak happened because I was a woman from Asturias—a lucky break I seized. Securing sponsors was tough, with many setbacks, but I’m a fighter. On the mountain, though, I’ve never faced bias—the mountain treats everyone equally.
YUMPING: "Una a Una," Spain’s first all-female MTB club, has a rich history. When did you decide to found it?
ROSA: The first time I saw Everest up close was on a bike crossing the Himalayas to the North Face base camp. I’d never cycled before and had to learn at nearly 40—I spent more time running with the bike than riding it! It was so hard I vowed to start a club for women.
Years passed, but after my cancer diagnosis in 2009, I couldn’t return to high-altitude climbing. Staying in Asturias, I finally launched "Una a Una" during my two-year treatment. We debuted in 2011 with 40 members—Spain’s first women’s MTB club.
YUMPING: Reflecting on your journey... If I said, "Rosa Fernández Rubio is the only Spanish woman to summit and complete the Seven Summits project," what’s your first thought?
ROSA: It was a fluke! I’d sworn I’d only climb Everest and never return to the Himalayas—a half-hearted promise. The Seven Summits project just happened to come along.
It was stressful—six expeditions in a year—but incredibly rewarding. A luxury to live those experiences. My daughter and I planned it all alone, with early internet help.
That’s Rosa Fernández—a determined, dream-driven woman who meets every challenge with grit and passion. Her story is one of resilience, resolve, and sheer love for the mountains. Thank you for trusting us and proving that even the toughest goals are within reach.
