Now, he sets his sights on summiting Mount Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Europe, and Mount Vinson, the tallest in Antarctica.
At 13, on 10 August 2023, Jaith summited Stella Point of Mount Kilimanjaro and pledged to himself to climb the Seven Summits, including Everest Base Camp, sooner rather than later.
Mount Elbrus in Russia stands at 18,510 ft, while Mount Vinson reaches 16,050 ft.
“As cliché as it may sound, I am truly proud of myself.
Strengthened by the lion’s might, it was an amazing experience overall, and being the youngest there is simply the cherry on top,” he says with a sense of achievement.
A Year 9 student at Colombo International School Kandy with a penchant for History, Business Studies, and Biology, Jaith relied on his sports background in football and badminton to build stamina and endurance.
“In comparison to summiting Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp was truly more special.
It was less rushed and more relaxed.
We stayed about 30 minutes, taking photographs and enjoying the surroundings, whereas on Kilimanjaro, it was five minutes, one photograph, and then turnaround.” Jaith, who collects ornamental fish and plays video games as hobbies, also swims and plays chess, adding to his vast extracurricular repertoire, which includes being a member of the Model United Nations.
While the adrenaline rush of seeing the words Everest Base Camp etched into the rock is hard to express in words, Jaith, who felt a mix of joy, achievement, and shock at having reached the Base Camp, also had some grounding moments on the climb.
“The lives led by the mountain people on Everest and other peaks in the region were shocking.
The Sherpas, for instance, earn barely enough to live even though they carry 15 to 30 kg on a given trip.
The Everest region feels like time has stood still.
There are no cars, no running water, and yaks and mules are used for ferrying necessities, while these Sherpas climb to and fro to earn their living. It’s not an easy life for them.”
Jaith recalls that the biggest challenge was the altitude, with breathing becoming harder as the climb grew steeper.
“We would usually start climbing at about 6:30 am, walking an average of seven hours daily.
The higher we went, the more difficult the days became, and those final days were truly challenging – fighting altitude and fatigue, which hit me in the last few days.”
He does, however, acknowledge that memories are not just made of reaching Base Camp.
“Visiting tea houses, crossing suspension bridges, climbing alongside mules and yaks, soaking in the beautiful landscape of glaciers and temples, experiencing the spiritual side of the mountain, and meeting experienced mountaineers who kept encouraging me – all of these are memories I will cherish.
It is amazing how every climber becomes a part of the mountain and the culture in the region.
The experience truly helped me bond more with my father and this climb was special because it was my way of getting back at him for Kili,” he adds with a smile.
Though his career ambition is not ‘mountain-oriented’ but rather focused on becoming a professional footballer playing in the Champions League one day, Jaith says he will not attempt an Everest climb again.
“It’s a little too nerve-wracking and has too many negatives.
But I am preparing for the next two climbs – the tallest in Europe and the tallest in Antarctica.”
Grateful for the support his teachers and friends extended to ensure he didn’t miss any schoolwork while away, Jaith encourages other young people to try mountaineering.
“Just remember, once you start, there’s no going back – as one person on the mountain told me.
All you need is a trekking pole and good layering.
From there, it becomes an addiction.
It is truly a soul-cleansing experience, builds self-confidence, and is a very useful way to find yourself.”
Captions
Photo 1
Saying he was ‘Strengthened by the lion’s might”, Jaith Nathavitharana is the youngest Sri Lankan to climb to Everest Base Camp
Photo 2
Jaith and his father Vidusha who accompanied him on the climb
Photo 3
Seeing the words Everest Base Camp etched on the rock was a surreal moment
Photo 4
“It’s not the mountain you conquer, but yourself”