Mountaineers relive their climb to top of the world, Everest

Seven climbers, each the first from their countries to ascend the summit, gathered in Dubai on invitation from Sharjah-based Qatari Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, who scaled Everest two years ago.

Seven Arab mountaineers who have climbed Everest met at NOVO Cinema in Festival City, Dubai, to see a preview of the new film about the world's tallest peak. Antonie Robertson / The National

DUBAI // Arab mountaineers relived the gruelling challenge of climbing the world’s highest mountain at a pre-release screening of Hollywood movie Everest in Dubai last week.

Seven climbers, including Emirati Saeed Al Memari, who were the first from their countries to reach the summit, gathered on the invitation from Sharjah-based Qatari, Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, who scaled Everest two years ago.

“I was fortunate to climb the summit in 2013 and we were the last team, since no one has climbed this year or last year,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

Nineteen people died this year at the base camp in an avalanche triggered by the April 25 earthquake in Nepal. Expeditions to Mount Everest have been cancelled twice in two years because of avalanches.

“I wanted my friends and family to enjoy this and also see how scary it is to climb Everest. I wanted people to meet Arab Everest summiteers and share their experiences,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “Accidents do happen and we do our best to avoid these. You must never be reckless and go to a mountain without proper training.”

Starring Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhall and Keira Knightley, Everest adapts the story of eight climbers caught in a violent storm who died on Everest in 1996. The film is now at cinemas across the UAE. Usually a mountaineer’s final challenge, Everest was the first mountain for Mr Al Memari, who was the first UAE national to scale it, in 2011. It spurred him to climb the seven summits, the highest mountains on each continent, and complete the Explorers Grand Slam, which includes reaching the North and South poles.

“People start with the small mountains, I started with the highest,” said Mr Al Memari.

“I climbed it to send a message to the UAE people that we can do this and reach the highest mountain. If you have faith, you can. It is fantastic to meet all these climbers who we have heard about but never met.”

For Dubai-based Palestinian mountaineer Suzanne Al Houby, it was a chance to see Everest again.

“I’m really emotional to see all the features, the ridge, the South Summit, the tip, to relive everything,” said Ms Al Houby, who was the first Arab woman to reach the summit, in 2011.

“I never wanted to climb to be the first, that wasn’t in my head. But the record was a message to all Arab, Muslim and Palestinian women that if we dream it, we can do it.”

She recalled the physical and mental strain under which she almost crumbled at the South Summit, with the peak about two hours away.

“I was beyond mental exhaustion, I was burnt out, I just hung on the rope and couldn’t move an inch. I don’t remember, it could have been seconds or minutes. I was thinking, I’m going to die here in a void, feeling nothing. But then an inner voice shook me, made me breathe and climb.”

Kuwaiti Zed Al Refai, the first Arab to climb Mount Everest in 2003, said he remembered every step.

“Back then people here were not as aware about mountaineering. I know some survivors from the 1996 incident, I’ve climbed with them. Passion makes you keep going despite tragedy. Everest is like a dream, I recall every single moment, every single step,” he said.