More Malaysians will record the names of the climbers of the 7 highest peaks in the world

BALIK PULAU: Another young Malaysian will record his name as the climber of the seven highest peaks of the seven continents of the world, if he successfully completes the climb on two more mountains, namely Denali in Alaska and Vinson Massif in Antarctica.

 

Muhammad Illaham Ishak, 47, who is also a native of Balik Pulau, Penang, will complete the mission starting with climbing Mount Denali, as high as 6,194 meters next week after being delayed for more than four years due to the Covid19 pandemic and lack of funds.

 

According to him, the mission to Mount Denali this time received moral support from the Member of Parliament, Balik Pulau, Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik.

 

“I would like to thank Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar for the support given to me as a native of Balik Pulau and my mission this time is of course that I will bring the Penang state flag with me to wave at the top of Denali.

 

“I also request everyone to pray for my success in completing this climbing mission”, he said in a statement to the media.

 

A brief ceremony of handing over the Penang flag for the mission to Mount Denali was completed by Muhammad Bakhtiar at the Balik Pulau Member of Parliament Service Center here recently.

 

The mission to climb the seven peaks of the seven continents of the world was carried out under the management of the Alpine Tour Club, KJA.

 

Muhammad Illaham’s climb to Denali mountain this time will be joined by two other climbers, Ir. Zulkifly Yusof, 37 and Zainudin Lot, 47 who are also KJA Advisors.

 

This Denali mountain expedition will also be recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records as a “Self Guided” climb, which means the climb is done without any help from Malim Gunung or other professional climbers from outside.

 

Muhammad Illaham, who is also the President of KJA, had previously completed the ascent of the highest peak on the African continent, Mount Kilimanjaro at a height of 5,895 in 2009.

 

Followed by the highest peak on the European continent which is Mount Elbrus with a height of 5,642 meters in Russia in 2012.

In 2013, he managed to conquer the highest peak in the Asian continent which is Mount Everest with a height of 8,848 meters which is also the highest peak in the world.

Then in 2018, he went to the highest peak in the South American continent which is Mount Aconcagua with a height of 6,961 meters in Argentina and Mount Cartenz Pyramid in Papua, Indonesia which is the highest peak in the continent of Australasia with a height of 4,884 meters.

For the record, less than 400 climbers from all over the world managed to record their name as Climbers of the 7 Highest Peaks of the 7 Continents of the World so far.

“I am confident and believe that this climb will be successful due to the fact that I have had 2 training experiences in Alpine climbing and polar climbing in Denali.

“One of the biggest challenges during the climb was the thick snow and the load of equipment that I had to carry myself because the climb did not use any mountain guide services”.

In addition, Muhammad Illaham explained, the extreme cold temperature that reaches negative 50 degrees Celsius is also a challenge in his expedition which is expected to take between two to three weeks.

Mount Denali previously known as Mount Mckinnley, located in the Alaska Range with a height of 6,194 meters, is the highest peak in the Americas and the third highest in the list of the 7 Highest Peaks of the 7 Continents of the World.

Climbing records show that only 53 percent of climbers have made it to the top since the first ascent was made in 1913.

In total, less than 400 climbers managed to record their name as Climbers of the 7 Highest Peaks of the 7 Continents of the World or ‘World Seven Summit’.

So far only four Malaysians have succeeded in doing so.

“I also welcome if there is any party willing to support me to complete my ascent with the help of funds and so on, especially from the state of Penang”, said Muhammad Illaham.