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UAE mountaineer conquers the seven summits

Sharjah - Shaikh Mohammed Al Thani has become one of just 350 mountaineers in the world who have conquered the seven summits

Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD) and renowned mountaineer and adventurer, successfully raised the UAE flag at the top of the world's seven summits.

Achieving the incredible feat, Shaikh Mohammed Al Thani has become one of just 350 mountaineers in the world who have conquered the Seven Summits, with his impressive success cemented when he reached the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America. For the final challenge, Sheikh Al Thani started his journey from the UAE, reaching the summit of Denali - 6,190m above sea level - on June 3, where he proudly raised the UAE flag.

Speaking to reporters Shaikh Al Thani said the Denali Summit proved to be one of the most challenging ascensions he has undertaken in his mountaineering career, with his 28-day trip hampered by extremely bad weather conditions that saw him exposed to storms and wind speeds of 80km per hour. "The success in this final Seven Summits' climb would not have been possible without patience, strong will and determination," he said

He added that climbing the Seven Summits is regarded as a particularly tough challenge for even the most experienced mountaineers. It involves reaching the top of mountains that include Mount Everest in Asia, the peak of which is 8,848m above sea level; Mount Aconcagua in South America, which rises 6,962m above sea level; Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa (5,895m), Mount Elbrus in Europe (5,642m); Vinson Massif in Antarctica (4,897m), Mount Kosciusko in Australia (2,228m), and Denali in Alaska, North America (6,190m).

"I am extremely proud of having hoisted the UAE flag on the tallest peaks on each one of the word's seven continents, which is the culmination of a tiring schedule of thousands of hours of training and hard work. Like other adventurers taking on demanding challenges, I have been through several risks and difficulties, but success in reaching these peaks has made all the effort worthwhile," said Shaikh Mohammed Al Thani.

"I believe we must set our targets high and dedicate ourselves to pursuing them despite all obstacles, because beautiful and great things in one's life do not come easily. With effort, persistence and commitment, what was impossible yesterday becomes possible today. I am extremely happy with this achievement, which I dedicate to the UAE and to my adventurer friends everywhere," he added.

Shaikh Al Thani told Khaleej Times that he began his journey of climbing the world's tallest peaks and successfully raising the UAE flag atop Mount Kilimanjaro on October 25, 2010. He followed this first Seven Summits success with the scaling of Mount Vinson, the tallest mountain in Antarctica, reaching its peak on December 25, 2011.

On August 28, 2012, Sheikh Al Thani reached the peak of Mount Elbrus - the highest point in Europe - and on October 11, 2012, he climbed Mount Kosciuszko, Australia. On January 5, 2013, he reached the summit of Mount Aconcagua, South America, the tallest peak in the western hemisphere. Sheikh Al Thani's penultimate success was the mounting of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, the summit of which he reached on May 22, 2013.

To reach the highest points on the world's seven continents, Shaikh Al Thani travelled to Tanzania, Australia, Nepal, Russia, the United States, Argentina and Antarctica. During his ventures he was exposed to numerous challenges, with harsh weather conditions a particular feature. Temperatures during his exploits regularly dropped below 30 degrees Celsius.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com