Mountaineer Rita Saliba becomes first Maltese woman to summit Denali

Maltese mountaineer Rita Saliba has become the first Maltese woman to reach the summit of Denali, completing the feat on 3 June and marking another milestone in her quest to conquer the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent.

Saliba, whose expedition was supported by main sponsor Eeetwell, announced the achievement in a social media post, describing the climb as one of the most physically, mentally and emotionally demanding challenges she has ever faced.

“I stood on the summit of Denali. It still doesn’t feel real,” she wrote.

Standing at 6,190 metres above sea level, Denali, located in Alaska, is the highest mountain in North America and is widely regarded as one of the most challenging peaks in the Seven Summits challenge due to its extreme weather conditions, harsh environment, glaciated terrain and demanding ascent.

Saliba said the journey to the summit was far from straightforward and was marked by uncertainty even before the climb began.

“We spent six days stuck in Talkeetna waiting for the weather to clear, watching our summit window disappear day by day. Every new forecast brought a mix of hope and disappointment,” Saliba said.

She described the wait as emotionally draining, saying the uncertainty became one of the toughest aspects of the expedition.

“The uncertainty was exhausting. The waiting was heartbreaking. At times, it felt like the mountain was teaching me patience long before I even set foot on it,” Saliba said.

Despite the setbacks, conditions eventually aligned, allowing the team to continue their ascent and ultimately reach the summit.

Reflecting on the achievement, Saliba said that what she will remember most is not only the summit itself, but everything it took to get there.

“The fear. The hope. The setbacks. The laughter. The friendships formed in one of the harshest environments imaginable,” Saliba said.

She said there were moments throughout the expedition when she questioned whether the years of training, sacrifices and preparation would be enough.

“This mountain challenged me in ways I never thought possible. It pushed me physically, mentally and emotionally further than I have ever been pushed before. There were moments when I doubted myself, moments when I wondered if all the training, sacrifices and hard work would be enough to get me here,” she said.

Saliba said the support of others helped carry her through some of the expedition’s most difficult moments.

“There were moments when I wanted to give up, and moments when the support of others carried me forward,” she said.

“When I finally stood on that summit, I felt so many things at once: relief, gratitude, pride, disbelief… and a few tears,” she said.

Saliba said she became the first Maltese woman to summit Denali.

“That means more to me than I can put into words,” she wrote.

Saliba described the mountain as an experience that both humbled and inspired her.

“Denali, you broke me, humbled me, inspired me, and ultimately rewarded me with a moment I will carry for the rest of my life.”

The climb marks another major milestone in Saliba’s Seven Summits journey and her fourth successful ascent in the challenge.

Before Denali, Saliba has already conquered the summits of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus and Aconcagua, the highest peaks in Africa, Europe and South America respectively.

With Denali now added to that list, Saliba moves one step closer to completing the prestigious Seven Summits challenge, which involves climbing the highest mountain on each continent.

Saliba said Denali would remain one of the most memorable chapters of that journey.

“One more summit on my Seven Summits journey, but this one will always hold a special place in my heart. Denali, thank you for the lessons, the memories, the friendships and the adventure of a lifetime,” Saliba said.

Through her climbs, Saliba is raising funds for Puttinu Cares and the Association for Abandoned Animals (AAA).

Donations can be sent through her Revolut fundraising link, @ritanf2p.

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