Sibu conquers seventh summit
18 June 2008, 07:42
An icy darkness blanketed Alaska's Mt McKinley on Friday evening as South African mountaineer Sibusiso "Sibu" Vilane realised his dream to climb the highest peaks on each of the world's seven continents.
After enduring slippery terrain and tackling temperatures that dropped to -24°C, Vilane and American climbing partner Steve Howe successfully reached Mt McKinley's peak at 8,45pm on an ominously chilly Friday the 13th.
Not fazed by the superstitious date, Vilane told his asssistant via satellite phone that he had never felt so "elated".
"I'm just so happy right now. I want all black South Africans to know that it's possible to do well in a sport like mountain climbing," he said.
Vilane previously ascended the highest summits of the six other continents with successful expeditions to Mt Vinson in Antarctica, Mt Elbrus in Europe, Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt Aconcagua in South America, Mt Kosciuszko in Australia and Mt Everest in Asia.
The "Seven Summit" mountaineering challenge surfaced in the 1980s after Richard Bass, an American businessperson and amateur climber, set a goal to climb the highest peak on each continent. Bass's mission promulgated a wave of other "Seven Summit" climbing hopefuls. So far, only 198 people can claim they have scaled all seven peaks.
Speaking to his assistant, Isabel Porzio, from Mt McKinley on Friday, Vilane said, while he won't stop indulging his passion for climbing, he also wants to spend more time helping and motivating children at home.
He has already donated proceeds from his Mt McKinley climb to a preschool in Port Elizabeth, and plans a career in motivational speaking. Above all, he wants black children to know "anything is possible".
Vilane and Howe hope to make the final descent today.
chelsea.laun@inl.co.za
After enduring slippery terrain and tackling temperatures that dropped to -24°C, Vilane and American climbing partner Steve Howe successfully reached Mt McKinley's peak at 8,45pm on an ominously chilly Friday the 13th.
Not fazed by the superstitious date, Vilane told his asssistant via satellite phone that he had never felt so "elated".
"I'm just so happy right now. I want all black South Africans to know that it's possible to do well in a sport like mountain climbing," he said.
Vilane previously ascended the highest summits of the six other continents with successful expeditions to Mt Vinson in Antarctica, Mt Elbrus in Europe, Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt Aconcagua in South America, Mt Kosciuszko in Australia and Mt Everest in Asia.
The "Seven Summit" mountaineering challenge surfaced in the 1980s after Richard Bass, an American businessperson and amateur climber, set a goal to climb the highest peak on each continent. Bass's mission promulgated a wave of other "Seven Summit" climbing hopefuls. So far, only 198 people can claim they have scaled all seven peaks.
Speaking to his assistant, Isabel Porzio, from Mt McKinley on Friday, Vilane said, while he won't stop indulging his passion for climbing, he also wants to spend more time helping and motivating children at home.
He has already donated proceeds from his Mt McKinley climb to a preschool in Port Elizabeth, and plans a career in motivational speaking. Above all, he wants black children to know "anything is possible".
Vilane and Howe hope to make the final descent today.
chelsea.laun@inl.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 6 of The Cape Times on June 18, 2008
Johannesburg
