Wang Jing (mountaineer)

{{Short description|Mountaineer and co-founder of Toread Holdings Group Co., Ltd}}

{{Infobox mountaineer

| image = Jing Wang in 2014 by Tashi Sherpa (cropped).jpg

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| image_caption = Wang Jing in April 2014

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| main_discipline =Mountaineer, Author, Entrepreneur

| other_discipline =Member of The Explorers Club

| birth_date =March 29, 1975

| birth_place =Ziyang, Sichuan Province, China

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| notable_ascents = Fastest time for a woman to complete the Seven Summits & Fastest time for a woman to complete the Explorers Grand Slam with use of helicopter up to and over 6,000m to reach the summit of Everest.

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| occupation =Mountaineer, Explorer

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Wang Jing ({{zh|c=王静|p=Wáng Jìng}}) is a Chinese climber, author, entrepreneur and member of The Explorers Club in the United States. Wang is best known for her feat in becoming the fastest woman in the world to complete the Explorers Grand Slam (Last Degree) in 143 days (4 months and 23 days) and the fastest woman to climb Seven Summits with an assist from helicopters (combined Mount Kosciuszko and Carstensz lists in 138 days, which is 4 months and 18 days).{{cite web|title=Explorers Grand Slam - Jing Wang|url=http://explorersgrandslam.com/jing-wang/|website=Explorers Grand Slam|accessdate=5 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=Explorers Grand Slam People|url=http://explorersgrandslam.com/#people|website=Explorers Grand Slam|accessdate=2 May 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Chip|title=Woman Whose Post-Avalanche Everest Ascent Sparked Outrage Defends Her Feat|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140805-mount-everest-sherpa-mountain-climbing-jing-wang-avalanche/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806183026/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140805-mount-everest-sherpa-mountain-climbing-jing-wang-avalanche/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2014|website=National Geographic|accessdate=6 August 2014}} The Explorers Grand Slam involves reaching the highest peak on every continent plus at a minimum of skiing the last degree (111 km) to the North and South poles.{{cite web|title=Explorers Grand Slam|url=http://explorersgrandslam.com/|accessdate=2 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=NORTH POLE - LAST DEGREE - TRIP|url=http://www.thomasulrich.com/en/northpole-last-degree-faq.html|website=Thomas Ulrich|accessdate=2 May 2017}} Wang recorded this adventure in her book Silence of the Summit, which was published in English in December 2018.{{Cite book|title=Silence of the Summit: Jing Wang: 9781792108457: Amazon.com: Books|isbn=1792108451 }}

Toread

Wang is the chairwoman, CEO, and co-founder of Toread Holdings Group Co., Ltd. In China.{{cite web|last1=huangjuan|title=Mountaineering Entrepreneuse|url=http://www.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/html1/people/business/10/3450-1.htm|website=Women of China|accessdate=29 March 2010}} The company offers outdoor products including clothing, shoes, and equipment, and went public on Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2009. It was named Forbes Asia's 200 Best Under A Billion in 2014.{{cite web|title=Beijing Toread Outdoor Products|url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/beijing-toread-outdoor-products/|website=Forbes|accessdate=5 May 2017}}

Mountaineering

On January 15, 2014, Wang reached the South Pole, marking the start of her Explorers Grand Slam journey. The Seven Summits Jing climbed included Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Aconcagua of South America, Kilimanjaro of Africa, Carstensz Pyramid of Oceania, Elbrus Summit of Europe, Mount Everest of Asia, Denali of North America and Mount Kosciuszko of Australia – covering both the Messner and Bass lists of the Seven Summits.

Wang and a team of Sherpas caused controversy as the only team to reach the summit of Mount Everest after the 2014 avalanche that killed 16 Sherpas, by using a helicopter to get from Base Camp to Camp 2. Elizabeth Hawley put an asterisk next to Wang's ascent, marking it aviation-assisted. The Nepalese government provided her with a summit certificate for "her successful ascent in a time of crisis and uncertainty."{{cite web |last1=Becker |first1=Kraig |title=Everest 2014: Jing Wang Receives Award for Everest Summit|url=http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/everest-2014-jing-wang-receives-award.html|website=The Adventure Blog |accessdate=1 July 2014}} As of 2016, helicopters now carry loads for Sherpa to Camp 1 as a matter of standard practice.{{cite web |last1=Callaghan |first1=Anna |title=The High-Risk Flights That Could Save Lives on Everest |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/2073246/high-risk-flights-could-save-lives-everest |website=Outside Online |accessdate=26 April 2016}}

Wang received the title "International-Mountaineer 2014" and also "Nepal-China goodwill ambassador-2015" from the Nepalese government.{{cite web|title=NTB appoints goodwill ambassadors|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/ntb-appoints-goodwill-ambassadors/|website=The Himalayan Times|accessdate=27 June 2015}}

Everest Future Foundation

Wang established the Everest Future Foundation to improve the standards of living of the Sherpa community, building schools, monasteries, and hospitals, and contributing to other welfare activities. One example is the Khumjung Gompa, a monastery located in the Khumjung village at the foot of the sacred peak of Khumbila at an altitude of 3,790m. This monastery is an important source of spiritual guidance to the local communities. On the 25th of April 2015 when an earthquake struck, leaving the monastery severely damaged, locals did not dare enter the monastery with the fear of sudden collapse.{{cite web|title=Everest Summiteer Wang Jing's book on mountaineering " Life at Altitude " launched|url=http://www.travelbiznews.com/news/trekking-mountaineering/item/1537-everest-summiteer-wang-jings-book-on-mountaineering--life-at-altitude--launched|website=Travel Biz News|accessdate=2 May 2017}} The Foundation donated 13,000,000 Rupees to support the reconstruction of Khumjung Gumba in 2017.

Jing has also donated to the Nepalese health and educational sectors in order to raise their standards.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} Along with this, she participated in activities cleaning up garbage in the Qomolungma high-altitude named "Clean The Mountain".

Books

Wang has authored two books based on her mountaineering experiences, Life at Altitude and Silence of the Summit. The first book was first published in Chinese in 2013, telling Wang's story from a sportswear businessperson to a mountaineer. The second book, Silence of the Summit, was published in Chinese in 2016, focusing on her expedition in 2014.{{cite web|title=Mountaineer Wang's Silence of the Summit released|url=http://lokaantar.com/en/literaturearts/mountaineer-wangs-silence-summit-released/|website=Lokantar|accessdate=2 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=MOUNTAINEER WANG'S SILENCE OF THE SUMMIT RELEASES|url=http://topnepalnews.com/nepal-english-news-nepal-latest-news-live-upd/2302|website=Top Nepal News|accessdate=30 May 2016}}{{cite web|last1=SAMITI|first1=RASTRIYA SAMACHAR|title=Launch of 'Silence of the Summit'|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/multimedia/photo-gallery/book-launch-of-silence-of-the-summit/|website=The Himalayan Times|accessdate=30 May 2016}} The English edition of Silence of the Summit was published in 2018.

Expeditions

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|+ Fastest Seven Summits - Bass and Messner Lists 138 Days, Fastest Explorers Grand Slam – 142 Days

! Date Climbed

! Mountain

! Height

January 15, 2014

| South Pole || 89 degree

January 19, 2014

| Vinson Massif || 16,050 ft.

January 31, 2014

| Aconcagua || 22,841 ft.

February 8, 2014

| Kosciusko || 7,310 ft.

February 15, 2014

| Kilimanjaro || 19,340 ft.

February 22, 2014

| Carstensz Pyramid || 16,023 ft.

March 14, 2014

| Elbrus || 18,510 ft.

April 8, 2014

| North Pole || 89 degree

May 23, 2014

| Everest || 29,035 ft.

June 6, 2014

| Denali|| 20,320 ft.

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|+ Additional 8,000 meter Peaks

! Mountain

! Height

Cho Oyu

| 26,906 ft.

Makalu

| 27,825 ft.

Manaslu

| 26,759 ft.

Shishapangma

| 26,289 ft.

Everest

| 29,035 ft.

Lhotse

| 27,940 ft.

Broad Peak

| 26,414 ft.

References