A 34-year old Kuwaiti will be the first Arab mountaineer to attempt climbing Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, after he succeeded in standing on top of four of the mountains in the world, according to Gulf News on Monday.
The paper said that Zeid Al Refai will begin his adventure on March 30, exactly half a century after the historic first conquest of the 8,850-meter high peak in May 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing.
Like the pioneers, Rifai will carry out his climb from the Tibetan side.
According to the Emirati paper, Refai’s goal is to tackle all seven of the world's highest peaks. He plans to follow Everest with an attempt on Mount Aconcagua in the Andes in November. The Himalayan giant, which defeats 70 percent of those trying to conquer it, will take Refai about 70 days to conquer, it added.
The Arab adventurer, whose native country is characterized by hot weather, told the paper that cold will not be a problem due to global warming which made the area more tolerable. Besides, he has experienced aides in his journey.
"The team I am climbing with are all experienced mountaineers, two of whom have already conquered Mount Everest. They all come from high-altitude countries, which means they are not only used to the climate, but their bodies are naturally better adjusted than mine to deal with the thin oxygen,” he said.
Refai's progress on Everest can be followed via his website at www.7-summits.com, which will be regularly updated during the climb – Albawaba.com
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