The members of the Seven Summits Expedition team from Wanadri, an outdoor activity organization, that were able to reach the Vinson Massif peak are Ardeshir, Yaftebbi, Iwan Irawan, Martin Rimbawan, Fadjri Al Lutfi and Nurhuda, the team`s executive chief, Yoppy Rikson Saragih, said in an e-mail received by ANTARA here on Saturday.
"Thank God right at 02.21 hours West Indonesia Time on January 7, the Seven Summits Team reached the Vinson Massif peak. The team thanked all for their prayers and support," he said.
The Vinson Massif is the sixth of the seven peaks the team plans to conquer. The last one will be the Everest (8,850 meter above sea level) in Tibet. If all goes well the climbers deserve to be called "Seven Summiters," he said.
To finish the program started since 2010 the team has received support from the ministry of sports, several state-owned enterprises such as Pertamina, Tugu Pratama insurance company and ANTARA news agency.
The team left the country to Chile on December 23 and from there flew to Punta Arenas also in Chile. Accompanied by guides they flew to Vinson Massif Base Camp at the height of 2,130 meter above sea level.
After arriving at the base camp the team immediately prepared themselves for the climbing which was divided into three stages namely to Camp 1 at the height of 2,743 meter above sea level, and then to Camp 2 (3,078), Camp 3 (3,749) and finally the peak.
Their challenge was not light as they had to deal with extreme cold weather. All team members wore special clothes that could stand up to minus 40 degree Celcius temperature.
Before reaching the Vinson Massif peak the team had conquered Ndugu-Ndugu or Cartenz Pyramid in Papua (4,884), Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5,892), Elbrus (5,642) in Russia, Aconcagua (6,962) in South America and Denali McKinley in North America. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
