LAHORE: It’s a moment to feel proud provided by our mountaineer Samina Baig, who has become thefirst Muslim woman and first Pakistani to scaleThe Seven Summits, 7 highest peaks on each of the 7 continents of the world.
Samina Baig, aged 23, also became the youngest Asian to achieve this historic landmark in the record eight months duration with her brother Mirza Ali, excluding Mount Everest as unfortunately he missed out scaling the world’s highest mountain.
The lady hailed from Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan became first Muslim and first Pakistani woman to hoist green flag atop World’s Highest peak Mount Everest.
- Mirza Ali Baig has announced that since Everest was closed this year due to an avalanche, he would attempt it again next year, which would then make him and Samina the first siblings to complete the seven summits on seven continents.Mount Everest (Nepal, Asia) - May 19, 2013
- Mount Aconcagua (Argentina, South America) – December 13, 2013
- Mount Vinson (Antarctica) – January 17, 2014
- Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, Africa) – February 12, 2014
- Mount Puncat Jaya (Indonesia, Oceania) – March 19, 2014
- Mount Mckinley (USA, North America) – June 28, 2014
- Mount Elbrus (Russia, Europe) – July 24, 2014 (ahead of the originally planned date of August 2014)
About Seven Summits Journey:
It is pertinent to mention that Samina Baig and Mirza Ali’s adventurous journey is aimed to attempt the seven highest peaks across world’s seven continents under Adventure Diplomacy Expedition, which has been sponsored by embassies of the Republic of Argentina, Indonesia, Nepal, Russia, US and Serena Hotels.
The Seven Summit Adventure Diplomacy Expedition started in November 2013 and was expected to complete in August 2014. It has been dedicated to women’s empowerment, gender equality and environmental conservation.
Dear Sir/madam,
ReplyDeleteI have been following the inspiring achievements of the mountaineering duo of Mirza Ali and Samina Baig. I congratulate them for successful completion of ‘adventure diplomacy’, with Samina climbing the seven summits and Mirza climbing six summits.
I am writing to draw attention to several media reports in Pakistan (both in local and national dailies), which have reported (what clearly appears) a false world record claim being made by Mr Mirza. I have read in these reports that ‘Samina is world’s fastest and youngest female to climb 7 summits’ and that the duo are the the world’s first siblings to climb seven summits. I find that both are wrong. In 2013, Vanessa O'Brien became the fastest female to complete the Seven Summits (including Carstenz Pyramid), finishing in 10 months. In May 2007, Samantha Larson completed the seven when she was 18 years and 220 days (she is still the youngest woman to have climbed the Seven Summits).
I also saw ‘world record’ written prominently on welcome banner in Serena hotels and also their claim as ‘1st siblings to scale 7 summits’ (through several local/national newspapers). The fact is Mirza has not yet climbed Everest with Samina, so that claim too is wrong! I do believe that such unverified and unsubstantiated ‘false’ claims will project adverse image of mountaineers in general and of Pakistani climbers in particular. May be you could verify and have issue correction suitably.
Yours,
Moksh Sinha