Conquering the Seven Summits

The red-and-white flag was hoisted on Mount Everest, the highest point in the world. It was mission accomplished for Mathilda Dwi Lestari and Fransisca Dimitri Inkiriwang in conquering the seven summits of the world.

DOKUMENTASI TIM WISSEMU

Indonesian Climber Fransisca Dimitri Inkiriwang (left) and Mathilda Dwi Lestari on the summit of Everest on Thursday (17/5/2018).

The red-and-white flag was hoisted on Mount Everest, the highest point in the world, on Thursday (17/5/2018). It was mission accomplished for Mathilda Dwi Lestari, 24, and Fransisca Dimitri Inkiriwang, 24, in conquering the seven summits of the world.

Both of them are the main climbers from Women of Indonesia’s Seven Summits Expedition Mahitala Unpar (Wissemu). Mathilda and Fransisca, international relations students from Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar), successfully climbed the seven summits in four years. They had to overcome many obstacles before they could hoist the national flag at the world\'s highest point.

The journey began in August 2014. Both of them were inspired by the success of the Nature Loving Students (Mahitala) Unpar members, who successfully climbed the seven summits in 2011.

Through a tight selection process and training, the first climb was up Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 meters above sea level [masl]) in Indonesia (Aug. 13, 2014). Afterward, one by one, they conquered the other summits, including Russia\'s Mount Elbrus (5,642 masl, May 15, 2015), Argentina\'s Aconcagua (6,962 masl, Jan. 31, 2016) and Tanzania\'s Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 masl, May 24, 2016).

They arrived at Antarctica\'s Vinson Massif (4,892 masl, Jan. 5, 2017) and the United States\' Denali (6,190 masl, July 1, 2017). The journey to Everest started on April 17, 2018.

It was not easy for them to accomplish their mission. Mathilda and Fransisca encountered many challenges. In July last year, they told Kompas, they got acute mountain sickness (AMS), which was often fatal when climbing Cartensz Pyramid. They were cold and had difficulty breathing. AMS is triggered by declining oxygen levels and air pressure when at high altitudes.

The journey to Elbrus was a thrilling one. For the first time, they climbed on snow. Temperatures were below zero while they carried 27 kilograms of supplies.

In Aconcagua, storm winds blew at almost 90 kilometers per hour. Similar conditions reportedly killed Indonesian climbers Norman Edwin and Didiek Samsu in 1992.

On one of the hardest summits, Denali, they sent out their wills just in case they died during the climb.

Fransisca thanked God for having survived. Preparation with the support of all sides strengthened their physical state and spirit. They jogged after ascending the 2.5-km route Unpar-Punclut Bandung in 45 minutes. They also shared knowledge with their senior at Mahitala.

“We dedicate this to Indonesia. When we were at the peak, we were proud of being Indonesian. We would never have succeeded without support from all sides,” Fransica said.

Peak of the peak

On the wall of the Mahitala Untar secretariat in Bandung on Friday (18/5/2018) still hang colorful fabrics on a string. They are Tibetan prayer flags that were put there two days ago. Everest is located in northern Nepal and southern China.

The flags were not merely ornamental. Two days ago, thousands of kilometers from Indonesia, Mathilda and Fransisca started the last journey to the peak of Everest (8,848 masl). The goal was to conquer the seven summits of the world, like Italian climber Reinhold Messner.

“The flags were a symbol of support so that the climb would be smooth,” said Wissemu support team coordinator Nadya Pattiasina.

Finally, at 5:50 a.m. on Thursday Nepal time (7:05 a.m. western Indonesian time), Mathilda and Fransisca sent good news via their global positioning system (GPS). They had arrived at the peak in good condition. They officially became the first Indonesian women to conquer the seven summits.

“They thanked the Indonesian people for their prayers. The success was dedicated to the unity of Indonesia,” he said.

When at Advanced Base Camp at 6,400 masl, Mathilda and Fransisca heard of the terrorist attacks in Surabaya on Sunday. The incident made them sad. The incidents harmed unity and solidarity, which were characteristics of the nation.

Both Mathilda and Fransisca felt the beauty of unity and cooperation. Their success was the result of collective efforts involving the support of many people. Nadya and three support team members gave direct assistance to Mathilda and Fransisca when they were in Zhaxizongxiang (4,150 masl) on Tuesday night. “When entering the hotel room, they were excited and hugged me,” she said.

Unpar rector Mangadar Situmorang was proud of Mathilda and Fransisca\'s success. He said it was inseparable from the consistency and fighting spirit. Mangadar said the campus supported both students from the 2011 batch to accomplish the Wissemu mission. The campus also gave them a break from their study.

“Currently, they are in their final year to finish their thesis. Based on the rules, the maximum length of study is seven years,” he said.