'The mountains humble us': Mumbai woman halts Elbrus ascent after feeling unwell

Mumbairsquos Seema Mane is back at her Ghatkopar home days after aborting a summit attempt on Mount Elbrus Europersquos highest peak Mane was originally scheduled to climb the mountain on September 4 However unfavourable weather conditions pushed that back and she began her ascent at 2 am on September 5 from Garabashi 3800 metresMane said ldquoBy 11 am I had reached an altitude of 5548 metres just 94 metres short of the summit At that point my health began to deteriorateMy body no longer responded my friend from Haryana who was also attempting the climb with me had moved ahead Although I knew that pushing just a little further might have allowed me to reach the top I also realised that I might not be able to return safely Therefore I made a difficult but wise decision to turn back Before descending I prayed to Mount Elbrus promising to return next year with greater preparation guided support and determinationDescent decideMane who works in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporationrsquos BMC garden department as horticulture assistant a horticulturist studies cultivates and manages plants particularly flowers fruits vegetables and ornamental plants descended to the Saddle mdash the point where the two peaks meet mdash using a fixed rope She said I was fortunate to receive invaluable assistance from fellow climbers Anton and Marina who helped me descend safelyA successWhile slightly disappointed at falling agonisingly short Mane can take solace in summiting Mount Kosciuszko less than a month before her Elbrus attempt which she did on August 19 This mountain is located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales Australia range approximately 200 km from the Australian capital Canberra Mane said ldquoMount Kosciuszko stands at 2228 metres 7310 feet and is the highest mountain in Australia It is also one of the renowned Seven Summits the highest peaks of each continentrdquoSeven scenesThe Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each of the seven continents The list includes Mount Everest Asia Aconcagua South America Mount Kosciuszko Australia Mount Elbrus Europe Mount Vinson Antarctica Kilimanjaro Africa and Denali North America Mane successfully reached the Mount Kosciuszko peak on August 19 at 1223 pm Australian time which was roughly 753 am IST Mane had already scaled Mount Kilimanjaro Africa in 2024 beginning her Seven Summits journey last yearldquoMy goal is to complete the Seven Summits so I have Kosciuszko checked off the listrdquo the 38yearold said Crediting family and supporters Mane made a special mention of her husband Mithun Sarvagod ldquowho pushes me to reach for the starsrdquo she said Speaking about her background she said ldquoI have completed Basic and Advanced Mountaineering courses and have also scaled Friendship Peak Himachal Pradesh Mount Bhagirathi II Uttarakhand and done multiple pinnacle climbs in the Sahyadris Every mountain presents unique challenges mdash weather and terrain mdash and while physical training is one aspect one needs a tremendous amount of mental strength too which is as important as oxygen mountaineers carry while climbingrdquoMane said about her Australia attempt ldquoI climbed solo because I wanted to independently apply the mountaineering skills I have gained through my training and courses The terrain is moderate but Australia is known for its extreme weather conditions mdash ranging from floods and droughts to hailstorms and bushfires During my expedition weather challenges were significant reinforcing the lesson lsquoDonrsquot be a Gama in the land of Lamarsquo she laughed Decoded the GamaLama is a slogan often seen painted on posts or boards in highaltitude places It simply means be cautious and respect the environmentAction cautionMane added ldquoAs a solo climber the authorities issued me a beacon for emergencies I also carried extra food warm clothing and other essential supplies in case I was stranded due to adverse conditions during the climb which was selffunded Reaching the summit was a deeply emotional and humbling moment I felt as though the mountains themselves were blessing meMane said ldquoAt the summit I proudly hoisted the Indian national flag tiranga along with and read aloud the Preamble of the Indian Constitutionrdquo The climber said philosophically ldquoKoscuiszko is done Although I did not stand on the summit of Mt Elbrus this time the experience taught me humility patience and respect for the mountains My journey continues and Mount Elbrus awaitsrdquo