Maltese mountaineer Rita Saliba sets off for Denali climb in bid to make history<\/p>\n
Maltese mountaineer Rita Saliba departed Malta on Thursday to begin an expedition to climb Mount Denali in Alaska, a challenge she described as the “hardest” she has undertaken so far, and one which could make her the first Maltese woman to summit North America’s highest mountain.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Malta Independent, Saliba said she was feeling excited but also nervous and scared, because of the mountain’s harsh conditions, glaciated terrain and the physical demands of carrying heavy equipment during the expedition.<\/p>\n
Saliba is travelling first to Canada, with a stopover in Calgary, where she will spend a week undergoing glacier training before heading to Alaska for the main expedition.<\/p>\n
The Denali climb is scheduled to begin on 16 May and is expected to continue until 8 June.<\/p>\n
Describing the challenge ahead, Saliba said that Mount Denali presents a very different test from the mountains she has climbed previously.<\/p>\n
“It is a very physical mountain because of the heavy loads we have to carry, but I feel prepared after all the training I’ve done,” she said.<\/p>\n
She added that the expedition is the toughest challenge she has faced to date.<\/p>\n
If successful, Saliba will become the first Maltese woman to summit Mount Denali, which, at 6,190 metres, is the highest mountain in North America.<\/p>\n
The expedition will also mark Saliba’s fourth climb in the Seven Summits challenge, a mountaineering goal involving the highest peaks on each continent.<\/p>\n
Saliba has already successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus and, more recently, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina in January of this year.<\/p>\n
Through the expedition, Saliba is also raising funds for the Association for Abandoned Animals and Puttinu Cares.<\/p>\n
She said that through this climb, she aims to inspire others while encouraging donations to these organisations, who carry out invaluable work in the community.<\/p>\n
People wishing to support the initiative and donate can do so through Revolut on @ritanf2p.<\/p>\n
Saliba also thanked her main sponsor, eeetwell, whose support she said helped make the expedition possible.<\/p>\n