Sharjah, UAE, 17th September 2012 – Tackling new heights, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, co-founder of Musafir.com, has successfully summited Mount Elbrus; his fifth adventure in the past two years in the name of Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) – the Qatari non-governmental organisation focused on making quality education accessible across Asia, and more recently Rahhalah–adventure travel partner offering a variety of active travel itineraries to many exotic and wild destinations around the globe.
Joining him on the climb to the tallest peak in Europe – at 5,642m, were Massoud Kalafchi, Raed Zidan, Ziad Al-Sharabi, Ali Jaber and Abdulaziz Kafoud, along with videographer, Elia Saikaly. Together, the group forms ‘Arabs with Altitude’, a team of adrenaline-rush seeking explorers who trek the globe in search of higher heights to reach.
Mount Elbrus, a dormant volcano along the Caucasus mountain range in south Russia, has a permanent icecap that feeds 22 glaciers. While the climb is not considered the most technically difficult, it does require the use of crampons and an ice axe, while facing high altitudes, fog, wind and extreme cold conditions.
Come day of the summit, the climbers were faced with a tough decision – a storm was brewing that would make conditions exponentially worse. When asked by the guide if the group wanted to take the risk or wait four days, the climbers decided to move forward.
Al Thani explained that this climb is a test of stamina, “The day of the summit was characterised by winds so strong (100km/hr), it was picking up snow and throwing it at us. In the face of skies that would not clear up, and temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius; we all agreed not to turn back, and to continue to trudge forward in reaching the goal we had set out to achieve.”
He adds, “The tricky part was the descent. With wind trying to blow us off of the mountain, we had to maintain control and balance – because one slip and you’re gone.” With each climb, Al Thani continues to work in collaboration with organisations that motivate people to dream big and do more. ROTA, for one, continues to champion the cause of ‘education as a right for every child.’ Rahhalah – a recent entrant into causes dear to Al Thani’s heart –inspires people to look outside cliché vacation ideas, moving out of their comfort zones to explore the entire splendor that the world has to offer, with a focus on eco, cultural and wellness, while always respecting the lands visited, along with their people and their culture. Al Thani, “I am moved by causes that motivate people to move; to change their perceptions or the way things have always been in the search for something better.
With each climb, I move out of my comfort zone but come closer to becoming the individual I aspire to be.” The recent adventure joins four other challenging climbs that include Mount Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Blanc and Vinson.
Al Thani concludes by reiterating that each climb is a distinct achievement on a rewarding journey, “Along the way I have learned to appreciate each mountain for its own set of challenges. Every summit is a lesson in patience, and is a call to the notion that ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going.’”
Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani’s adventures can be followed on www. twitter.com/moealthani and www.musafir.com
About ROTA
Reach Out To Asia is a non-profit organization launched in December 2005 in Doha, Qatar, by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, daughter of His Highness the Emir of Qatar. Operating under the auspices of the Qatar Foundation, ROTA is committed to providing high quality and relevant primary and secondary education, encouraging relationships among communities, creating safe learning environments and restoring education in crisis affected areas across Asia and around the world. ROTA envisions a world, where all young people have access to the education they need in order for them to realize their full potential and shape the development of their communities.
Further information on Reach Out To Asia can be found at: www. reachouttoasia.org.
About Qatar Foundation
Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Misned, Qatar Foundation is a private, non-profit organization committed to the principle that a nation’s greatest natural resource is its people. The headquarters of Qatar Foundation are located within its flagship project, EducationCity. A fourteen million square-metre campus, EducationCity is home to numerous progressive learning institutions and centers of research, including branch campuses of six of the world’s leading universities, plus a cutting-edge science and technology park. Qatar Foundation also works to enhance the quality of life in Qatar by investing in ‘Education, Science and Technology and Community Health and Development’.
Published in October 2012
