Carstensz (4,884m), West Papua
The final chapter of my Seven Summits journey took me to the heart of West Papua. A limestone fortress rising from the jungle, Carstensz Pyramid (4,884m) is a world apart from the frozen peaks of the other continents.
Vinson (4,892m), Antarctica
Mount Vinson (4,892 m) is the highest peak in Antarctica. It is neither technically very difficult nor particularly high, but its isolation, the endless ice, and the extreme weather conditions (wind chill down to −45°C) make it an extraordinary summit.
7 Summits Challenge
Everyone finds in the mountains what they seek. For me, the Seven Summits was never about records, but a personal “excuse” to discover the seven continents and their legendary summits: Kilimanjaro, Denali, Aconcagua, Elbrus, Everest, Mount Vinson, and Carstensz Pyramid.
Everest (8,848m), Tibet
Far from the crowds often seen in photos, there were only about a dozen of us reaching the summit that day. The wind had been blowing for days, dropping the wind chill to -47°C. I have never been so cold, not even in Antarctica or Alaska in winter. Reaching the top triggered emotions that were as intense as they were mixed—joy, fear, sadness, emptiness. Everest is a mountain that leaves a mark.