While some might be stuck on the pronunciation of the famous Seven Summits, Safia Hosein, a 41-year-old private-plane and helicopter pilot from Trinidad and Tobago, actually braves them, defying the odds, overcoming adversity, and shattering antiquated prejudices in the process.
Even though Hosein says she doesn’t necessarily intend to try to conquer the highest mountain peak on every continent, she has already made headway into doing so, becoming one of an elite group to reach the top of the Vinson Massif – Antarctica’s highest peak, at 4,892 metres.
Expeditions to Vinson have been successfully completed by only about 1,200 people, fewer than any other of the Seven Summits, owing to its isolation, costly logistics, and the intense weather conditions.
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, with variations according to the source. They often include Aconcagua (Argentina, South America), Denali (US, North America), Mount Everest (Nepal/China, Asia), Eibrus (Europe), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, Africa), Kosciuszko (Australia), Vinson, and an eighth, Puncak Jaya (New Guinea) – the highest mountain peak on an island on earth.
[caption id="attachment_1056492" align="alignnone" width="768"] Safia Hosein is a private-plane and helicopter pilot. -[/caption]
Hosein and her guide took four days before she finally reached the summit on Christmas Day.
She was scheduled to arrive in Antarctica on December 18, but got there a day later because of poor weather.
Speaking with WMN from Antarctica, where she experienced frequent problems with connectivity, Hosein said it was just a minor delay in a plan made long ago.
“I'd actually been planning to climb Vinson for two years. I was supposed to come last year, but I received a job offer I was really excited about.”
She was also excited to scratch Vinson off her bucket list. She did so with a message on her Facebook page, saying, “It doesn’t matter where I am on the planet, I will always be a Biche girl.”
What she didn’t relay was her relief that the adventure was over. Hosein said it was the challenge she expected – and a bit more.
“A lot of people, when they finish something challenging, decide not to disclose exactly how difficult the process was. (But) even the men in my group agreed that nothing we had read or seen prepared us for what we encountered.
“I always try to be upfront and honest about any of my experiences so someone coming after me can learn from it.”
[caption id="attachment_1056489" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Safia Hosein says it doesn’t matter where she is, she will always be a Biche girl. -[/caption]
Conditions are usually favourable for travellers to Antarctica in December, but the blinding effects of round-the-clock sunlight against the snow meant she needed to keep her sunglasses on constantly.
Asked what went through her mind as she reached the summit, she said the day itself had been difficult.
“There was a possibility of not reaching the summit because of high winds, which is a huge no-no
