On August 17, Jammada Preeth Appaiah of Bannimantap, Mysuru, scaled Mount Elbrus, which is the highest peak both in Europe and Russia. She started at midnight and reached the summit at 7.20 am, taking 7 hours and 20 minutes to complete the climb. She was one of the eleven expedition members. 

Tekkada Bhavani from Peroor, Napoklu, is the first Kodagu native to achieve such a feat, and Preeth is the second. Preeth also successfully completed the trek to Mount Kilimanjaro in Mar 2023. Located in Tanzania, this lone, snow-capped mountain stands at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) and is the highest in Africa.  

At 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) above sea level, Mount Elbrus is an extinct volcano situated deep within the Caucasus Mountain range, close to the Georgian border. This 700-mile range contains 14 of the most important mountains of Europe and has the 10th highest peak in the world.  

 Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain in the Caucasus, and the peak lies in the southern Russian territory of Kabardino Balkaria. Pertaining to topography, most geographical experts have classified Mount Elbrus as the highest in Europe even though it is in the Caucasus Range that extends through Asia and Europe.  

Preeth shared about her difficult journey in an interview. For instance, on August 9, she traveled out of Mysuru and landed in Russia on August 10. This made her endure extreme cold and risky moments on Elbrus after trying to adapt with a hike to a 4,120-meter height and other extra hikes. It was dangerous to embark on the climb because of the crevice and Arctic winds whose temperatures went down to 35 to 40 degrees below zero. Preeth and her team reached the summit on August 17 after previous challenges and bad weather. 

Preeth Appaiah is a homemaker in Mysuru who is married to Jammada M. Aiyanna, an advocate. Aryan Kuttappa and Pratham Poonacha are the couple’s two sons. Preeth is the daughter of Gowramma and the late Hon. Captain Kunjiyanda Appaiah. Kunjiyanda Machaiah (Machu), her brother, is a wildlife photographer.