This is Sheikh Mohammed’s sixth major mountain adventure in the past two years in support of Rota, Qatar’s leading educational not-for-profit organization.
“Sheikh Mohammed’s determination to succeed is an inspiration to us all. On behalf of Rota directors, staff and volunteers, I congratulate him on achieving this incredible record-breaking attempt and thank him for all his work and support for Rota and its educational and personal development programmes,” said Rota Executive Director Essa Al Mannai.
Travelling to southern Russia, close to the border with Georgia, Sheikh Mohammed and his companions began the demanding ascent of the 5,642m tallest peak in Europe. A dormant volcano along the Caucasus mountain range, Mount Elbrus has a permanent icecap and, in bad weather conditions, the wind chill effect can reduce temperatures down to -50°C.
Faced with the possibility of extreme conditions including high altitude, fog, wind and extreme cold, on the day of the climb to the summit, Sheikh Mohammed was faced with a tough decision – a storm was brewing that would make conditions considerably worse. When asked by the guide if he wanted to take the risk or wait four days for the weather to improve, he bravely decided to move forward.
“The day of the summit climb was characterised by wind so strong (100km/hr), it was picking up snow and throwing it at me. In the face of skies that would not clear up, and temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius, I did not want to turn back; I was determined to continue trudging forward to reach the goal I had set out to achieve,” explained Sheikh Mohammed.
As with all his mountain climb challenges, Sheikh Mohammed works in partnership with organisations like Rota who champion education as a human right for every child. “When I’m not climbing mountains, part of my mission and the reason I work with Rota is to motivate young people to move beyond limitations and reach for their dreams. I support Rota’s youth development programmes which help young people develop initiative and learn to overcome challenges to reach their potential,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed has also climbed the highest peaks in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro), Western Europe (Mont Blanc) and Antarctica (Vinson Massif). He also attempted to reach Mount Aconcagua in Latin America and reached Everest Base Camp in Nepal.The Peninsula
