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| Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani on Vinson Massif |
Sheikh Mohamed was able to conquer Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica at 4,892m (16,050 ft), and in doing so, became the first Qatari to ever achieve the feat.
Located on Ellsworth Mountains, Vinson Massif is the highest peak in Antarctica, which is on average, the coldest, driest and windiest of all the continents with the highest elevation.
A frozen desert with little precipitation, temperatures have reached ?89 °C (?129 °F), cold enough to shatter steel, with wind that may reach over 50 knots.
There are no permanent residents there, with only cold-adapted organisms able to survive. Distinct in being the planet’s last great wilderness and one of the most inaccessible ranges in the world; until recently, climbing Mount Vinson was logistically almost impossible. The danger associated with the climb comes from its isolation, combined with the extreme cold and unpredictable weather on the continent, which makes Vinson a very serious undertaking. Even a small accident there could be disastrous.
Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani commented: “Mount Vinson is a real challenge. It requires serious commitment, extensive experience with winter mountaineering and excellent physical fitness, especially when called upon to climb eight hours a day. To climb it, is to brave earth’s extremities and to stand atop Antarctica, the least explored continent on Earth and the most in tune with nature’s intrinsic beauty.”
During the three-week expedition, he was forced to reach the summit from the more difficult Western side in order to avoid the South’s higher winds.
Two teams turned around due to the extreme weather conditions, but he was successfully able to make it to the top. The journey has always been about the cause, as he rallies in the name of the rights of children for education in collaboration with Rota.
This, along with inspiring today’s generation to achieve more, is the symbolism behind conquering peaks and overcoming tough terrains to reign triumphant. Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani has already faced Mount Everest Base Camp in 2009, Mount Kilimanjaro in 2010, Mount Aconcagua and Mount Blanc in 2011.
“This is a goal that I had set for myself over three years ago and now I can successfully cross it off my list. As I continue to challenge myself to see how much I can attain, I hope others will find inspiration in my actions, pushing themselves to the limits and finding that they too can come out victorious if they work hard enough,” he said.
Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani looks forward to tackling Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, in June.
