Hari Rasa Pandita Devi Dasi, also known as Priti Wright, has spent her life navigating two very different worlds: the path of spiritual devotion laid before her from birth and the call of the mountains, where she pushes the limits of human endurance. Through Alpine Vagabonds, the project she shares with her husband, Jeff Wright, she documents these high-altitude journeys, carrying her faith to the summits of some of the world’s most demanding peaks.

Born into a family of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, she was surrounded by Krishna consciousness from the very beginning. While others spend years searching for answers, she always knew where to find them. But knowing and understanding are two different things. “Growing up, I had access to the timeless wisdom from the ancient Sanskrit texts, masterfully translated and explained by Srila Prabhupada, but I had little experience with the material world to personally explain why they are so true,” she said. That desire to test what she had been taught led her toward the unknown – places where both the body and mind are pushed to their limits.

Her initiation at fifteen by Virabahu Das, a close friend and mentor to her parents, strengthened her connection to her spiritual path. At the same time, she developed a deep awareness of impermanence, something that eventually drew her to mountaineering. “I was raised with a constant awareness of death, knowing we can bring nothing and no one with us,” she said. The harsh environment of the mountains only reinforced that lesson, but paradoxically, she found that being surrounded by the reality of death made her feel more alive.

Physical endurance has played a major role in her life, but she credits her ability to sustain it to a practice that began in childhood – chanting. “The practice of mantra meditation for an hour or so every day creates a lifestyle of habit-building, dedication, and gratitude that has helped me so much, whether or not I even understand it at the time,” she said. Chanting, she explains, isn’t so different from climbing. “I chant mantra after mantra, step after step up the mountain, and eventually I get to the top.”

In 2020, she and Jeff started Alpine Vagabonds, recognizing the fleeting nature of social media posts and the need for something more lasting. “Short-form social media is also short-lived. The small doses of content also inspire small doses of understanding and knowledge,” she said. Their platform became a space to share detailed accounts of their expeditions, much like climbers rely on others’ reports to navigate challenging routes. She sees a connection between mountaineering and spiritual life. “If someone has gone there before you, found the pitfalls and handrails, don’t you want to know beforehand?” she asked. “Sure, you can go blindly, finding the adventure on your own without prior knowledge, but doesn’t it usually take longer? Life is short enough as it is.”

On her first summit over 7,000 meters, she had a moment of clarity that has stayed with her. “I had the realization that from here I could see my whole life and the world I had experienced and might experience, just like I could see all of the surrounding valleys and peaks that would again be hidden when I descended from the top, back to base camp,” she said. That perspective – fleeting but profound – has kept her returning to the mountains. Even at high altitudes, she remains connected to her practice, often chanting and listening to devotional audiobooks. “I think that spiritual practice can be done anywhere at any time! It is not limited to our material situation.”

Like any serious climber, she has faced moments of real danger. “We have had some scary moments in the mountains, and I have prayed more sincerely to Krishna and Lord Narasimhadev than ever before,” she said. In those situations, she draws strength from Arjuna’s story on the battlefield. “If Arjuna can do his duty and fight, I can continue up the mountain when I am scared but reasonably safe.”

“We have passed bodies in Patagonia and Canada and watched a man die of altitude sickness on Denali. This life is temporary, and we must treasure it and make the most out of our beautiful lives. Every moment is a gift, and using it to chant and serve Krishna makes it valuable. We don’t always know Krishna’s plan, but we can’t stop trying to find out what it is!”

One of her most ambitious climbs was K6 Central (7,155m), once the 19th highest unclimbed peak in the world. She enjoys mapping routes and believes the visual overlay tells a fuller story than words alone. Now, she and Jeff are sport climbing across Europe and Southeast Asia, preparing for the next challenge.

“I want to continue to improve my understanding of the scriptures and how to apply them to my life,” she said. “I have so much to learn from other devotees who have experienced or realized it before. I am still struggling to surrender and battling with my self-ego.” The next mountain could be Cerro Torre, El Capitan, or another unclimbed peak in the Pakistani Karakoram. The destination is uncertain, but the journey – both spiritual and physical – continues. 

Readers can follow their adventures and insights on their website – Alpine Vagabonds, and their YouTube and Vimeo, and Instagram platforms.