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Published 13 Feb, 2014 07:37am

Another feat for the brother-sister mountaineer duo

ISLAMABAD: Samina Baig and her brother Mirza Ali on Wednesday captured the third of the seven highest peaks spread across different continents.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed that the climbing duo has conquered the 5,895 metres high Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

“The climbers have not yet returned to base camp. We will have more information once they are back and ready to give more details about their accomplishment,” said Member Executive Council, ACP, Karrar Haidri while confirming the news of their success.

Samina Baig became the first Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest on May 19, 2013 on the 60th anniversary since the world’s highest peak was conquered the first time in 1953.

The climbing duo had made history in January when they climbed the highest peak Mount Vinson in Antarctica.

Member Executive Council, Alpine Club of Pakistan, Karrar Haidri confirmed that Samina Baig and her older brother Mirza Ali became the first Pakistanis to reach the top of the highest peak on the Antarctica continent.

And in December 2013, Samina Baig became the first Pakistani woman to have climbed Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in South America. She and her brother made it to the top together.

Mr Haidri explained that the two members group now had three highest peaks in three different continents under their belt.

“They will now be traveling to Indonesia to attempt Puncak Jaya which is 4,884 metres high. Mirza Ali had also shared his plans to attempt Mount Everest (8,848 metres high) again in pre-monsoon season next year.

“During next summer the pair would be attempting Mount McKinley in Alaska. Both would be flying to Russia to climb the highest mountain in Europe, Elbrus which is 5,642 metres tall, and this would be their last target peak in August 2014,” Karrar Haidri said.

He said a Pakistani Canadian philanthropist and few of his overseas friends were financing brother-sister duo’s climbing expeditions.

Haidri explained that the Seven Summits were the highest mountains of each of the seven continents.

“Some of these mountains may be as easy to climb as walking in the park. But extreme weather conditions like strong winds or sub zero temperatures are some factors that make climbing a challenge. Therefore physical fitness is a must.

“Conquering all of them is viewed as a mountaineering feat. If they are successful, it will be no less than a record attempt,” said the ACP official while elaborating on how the two climbers were the first Pakistanis attempting to capture the Seven Summits.

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