Jeddah – agencies
But this victorious team was not made up of ordinary mountaineers, but a group of old and retired Saudi citizens who were raising the flag.
A group of 16 Saudis, organized by Akam Tourism Agency, made a 15-day trek across valleys, under waterfalls and over bridges to reach Everest base camp on the southern side of the mountain.Upon reaching the impressive 5,364-meter mark, they hoisted the Saudi flag and performed the call to prayer, the Islamic call to prayer.
Despite some health problems, as some climbers lost consciousness during the trip, they were able to fight back after receiving first aid, and the whole team successfully reached the base camp.
The team later celebrated their success at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kathmandu, Nepal, where they were awarded certificates to mark their achievement.
And while many media outlets incorrectly reported that the team had reached the summit of Everest, which is 8,848 metres, reaching base camp is still a remarkable feat given the climbers’ ages and health.
Climbing Everest is a dangerous undertaking, which explains why in the history of mountaineering only 4,833 different people have reached the summit, according to the Himalayan Database.The database also states that 288 people have died trying.
However, getting to base camp is a less difficult task, with many experts saying it can be reached by anyone healthy enough to walk 3-6 hours uphill per day while carrying a good sized pack.
