Kristin Harila and Ingerid Stenvold - Selected Title Authors
We are happy to present our selected title authors Kristin Harila and Ingerid Stenvold. They have written The Ultimate Triumph – - And the Tragedy that Followed (original title: Den ultimate triumfen og tragedien som fulgte). The book is one of NORLA’s Selected Titles of the autumn 2025.
Kristin Harila
What is your book about?
The book tells the story of the journey toward setting the world record for climbing the 14 highest mountains on Earth. It describes the preparations, the challenges along the way, and how teamwork and friendship proved crucial to success. The story encompasses the first attempt in 2022, the triumph of achieving the record in 2023, and the difficult experiences that followed, including the accident on K2 and the loss of Lama.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to share the story of how I became the fastest person in the world – regardless of gender – to climb all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters. The mountains have always fascinated me, but the journey is just as much about preparation, mental strength, and collaboration as it is about the summits themselves. I hope the book can inspire others to see that with the right mindset and hard work, it’s possible to reach goals that may seem completely out of reach at first.
Who is this book for?
The book is for anyone seeking inspiration – whether they are fascinated by mountains, adventure, and great achievements, or whether they simply enjoy reading about extreme challenges and what it takes to overcome them.
What sets your book apart from others in the same genre?
This is a unique story – no one has ever done this faster, and never before has the record been shared with a Sherpa. In addition, the book offers a personal insight into the contrasts between the great moments on the mountain and the harsh realities that come with such a high-risk lifestyle. It’s also richly illustrated with spectacular photos from the expeditions, as well as glimpses from my childhood and everyday life.
Ingerid Stenvold
What is your book about?
The book tells the story of an almost inconceivable world record: Kristin Harila and Tenjen Lama Sherpa summited all fourteen of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in just 92 days. We gain a unique insight into the work behind such a feat, what it demands, and not least, the price you pay to achieve something no one thought possible. We meet the young girl from Kariel, a tiny village almost as far north and east as it’s possible to go in Norway. We follow her as a teenager who moves to Lillehammer, 2,000 kilometers away, to go to school, and later as an adult woman who quits her executive job at Skeidar (a large furniture chain) and sells her apartment. All to pursue a dream. A dream that would also become a nightmare.
What inspired you to collaborate on this book?
Kristin’s unwavering belief in – and desire to prove – that women can achieve everything that men can. Or more. In a heavily male-dominated climbing world, she silenced all doubts – without needing any grand gestures or big words.
Read more
See full presentation of the book here
Read more about Kristin Harila here
See all NORLA’s Selected Titles for the autumn 2025 here
