Frozen Lake Challenge

[Anchor Lead]

A Korean mountaineer walked across Lake Baikal alone amid frigid temperatures of as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. Next, we share her story: climber Kim Young-mi’s latest challenge.

[Pkg]

Vision is hampered by severe blizzard.

[Soundbite] "Whiteout is seriously severe."

She struggles to walk forward step by step and relies on a global positioning device. With the fierce winds in Siberia, it feels as if the temperature hovers around minus 40 degrees Celsius. While pulling a sleigh carrying food and equipment, and weighing 90 kilograms, she walked 30 kilometers daily on the frozen lake every day.

[Soundbite] Kim Young-mi(Mountaineer) : "Mother Nature is alive at Lake Baikal. It is where the 250 million-year history of earth is kept intact. I thought that I would regret it if I didn't go there."

Lake Baikal, the world's largest freshwater lake, is equivalent to a third of South Korea. It is one of the most remote and untouched regions. After leaving a village at the southernmost tip of the lake, she completed the 700-kilometer-long route, equal to a round trip between Seoul and Busan. She did it alone in 23 days. Kim Young-mi conquered the highest peaks on the world's seven continents as the youngest to do so from South Korea. Similar to drawing a picture on a sheet of white paper, the experience of blazing her own trail on the lake generated a different type of inspiration from climbing high mountains.

[Soundbite] Kim Young-mi(Mountaineer) : "I saw a hill and climbed up. The sunset at the time was touching. So I cried."

Kim says that walking patiently is a key to success. Her challenge gives hope and courage to many people who are pursuing their own paths quietly.