Taiwanese mountaineers prepare for a decade to conquer the world's 14 peaks

Following their 2009 sponsorship of a Taiwanese climbing team that successfully scaled the Seven Summits and gained international acclaim, Cheng Kun, chairman of outdoor recreation equipment manufacturer OutDoor, announced on the 22nd that he will continue to rally and sponsor top polar adventurers in Taiwan to conquer the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 meters. Currently, only 21 climbers worldwide have completed this formidable challenge. To ensure Taiwan is not left out, OutDoor plans to invest over 100 million NTD in the next decade to support Taiwanese mountaineers in continuing to set world records.

After investing 35 million NTD in funding and manpower from 2005 to 2009 to assist Lin Xiu-zhen and others in achieving the feat of climbing the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, Cheng Kun, with the support of the Sports Affairs Council, has launched another greater exploration plan. The goal is to rally Taiwanese polar experts over the next ten years to take on the world's 14 peaks exceeding 8,000 meters in height, enabling the Taiwanese mountaineering team to make history at the world’s highest summits.

Cheng Kun said that the 14 peaks are located in the Himalayas and the Karakoram Range, of which Taiwanese mountaineers have only reached the summits of three: Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma. The remaining 11 peaks have yet to be conquered by any Taiwanese climber. Worldwide, only 21 climbers are currently officially recognized as having completed all 14 peaks.

OutDoor has enlisted expert advisory teams from National Taiwan Sport University, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, and Yang Ming Chiao Tung University to initially select 12 mountaineers for training, from which five to six members will be chosen. In June, they will depart for Pakistan to tackle Broad Peak, standing at 8,047 meters.

Cheng Kun stated that this adventure project is expected to require an investment of over 100 million NTD. To encourage more mountaineers and newcomers to participate, those involved must undergo a series of training sessions and eliminations, with the hope of setting a record through teamwork.