Muscat: Omani adventurer Khalid Bin Sulaiman Al Siyabi has become the first Omani to scale Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world at 8,848 metres above sea level.
After hoisting the Omani flag on Everest Summit, Al Siyabi, 37, said that his two-month-long mission was achieved after a lot of hardship and determination, according to a report by Oman News Agency.
“It was not easy as it posed some risks, including changing weather conditions and severe cold with temperatures sometimes dropping to below 50 degrees Celsius,” he pointed out.
He added that the climb to the Everest was delayed due to strong winds and heavy snowfall. “Lack of Oxygen on top was one of the toughest challenges that I face during this expedition,” he said.
He revealed that some of the members of the team had to drop out due to severe hardship.
However, he added, that he had resolved to reach the peak making the venture his way of commemorating celebrations of Oman’s 40th National Day anniversary.
His team members included climbers from Turkey, Finland, the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and Argentina.
He said that they spent about 60 days in training while trying to adapt to the surroundings. The climbers were divided into four camps on the top of the mountain on the China-Nepal borders.
“This is my way of expressing loyalty and allegiance to the leader of the blessed Omani renaissance, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed,” he said.
Last year, Al Siyabi became the first Arab to climb Bimori mountain, one of the most dangerous Himalayan mountains about 7,145 metres above sea level.
