After about two months of adventure, the Lebanese climber Joyce Azzam achieved her dream of becoming the first Lebanese woman to scale the highest mountains of each of the seven continents, including the world’s tallest peak: Mount Everest!
Joyce Azzam’s journey began on April 21. Throughout her journey, she faced difficult climatic and illness conditions that forced her to return to her place of residence several times to refuel herself with energy and new supplies.
However, these difficult conditions that brought her back to the basic camp gave her the valuable opportunity to acquire additional training in the techniques of using stairs and climbing arts.
Azzam’s determination and courage made her successfully scale Mt Everest along with other team members, reaching the Mount Everest summit – 8,848 meters into the sky – and lifting the Lebanese flag with pride.
By reaching Mt Everest, Azzam has now officially achieved the Seven Summits’ Challenge, raising the Lebanese flag atop the highest mountain on each of the seven continents:
Everest (Asia), Mount Elbrus (Europe), Puncak Jaya (Oceania), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), and Vinson Massif (Antarctica).
Joyce Azzam’s dreams and plans don’t end here. She has more extraordinary adventures planned for as soon as she recovers from her Everest exploit.
She intends to climb the two world poles becoming the second woman in the world to complete the Explorers Grand Slam, which combines the seven summits challenge with the poles’ expeditions.
Climbing and reaching Mount Everest is an aspiration and dream for many young Lebanese men and women who have expressed being inspired by Joyce’s experience.
Joyce has demonstrated that no highest mountain is unconquerable to those with determination and persistence.
Her inspiring exploits could be the beginning of many other outstanding challenges and climbing experiences led by our enthusiastic Lebanese youth, who no doubt will raise Lebanon’s name and flag atop many other mountains worldwide.
