(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Anisha Bijukumar / The Peninsula Online
Qatari adventurer Fahad Badar who recently became the first Arab to summit Everest and Lhotse in a single journey has added another feather to his cap.
The adventurer recently shared a picture of him posing with the national flag after scaling Matterhorn mountain on the Swiss-Italian border. The 15,000-foot tall (4,478metres) Matterhorn is a large, near-symmetrical pyramidal peak in the Pennine Alps, making it one of the highest and most technically difficult summits in the Alps and Europe.
Fahad Badar on top of Mont Blanc
Speaking to The Peninsula about the emotions after completing the grueling climb, Badar expressed his pride in raising the Qatari flag on top of the mountain.
'I felt proud raising Qatar flag in two months' time after summiting Everest and Lhotse. I used my Eid holidays to go to France, Italy and Switzerland. I climbed Mont Blanc, which is the highest in Western Europe and then went to Matterhorn mountain. Technically it is very difficult to climb, so it is a great honour for me to do it, he told The Peninsula.
Badar on his way to the top of Matterhorn
Badar tweeted in Arabic after his climb that can be roughly translated, "...Praise be to God, as it is one of the most technically difficult European mountains, Matterhorn gave me the opportunity to reach its summit on Sunday 18/8/2019. I have the utmost respect for any climber who climbed Matterhorn and getting to the top is half the challenge because going down is also difficult, if not more dangerous."
Matterhorn is very challenging to mountaineers. Over the years an estimated 500 people have died attempting to climb the Matterhorn. Just three weeks back a South Korean climber succumbed to injures after a fall, seventh such incident this year. Local guides call the mountain 'too dangerous.
Speaking about the challenges he faced during the expedition Badar said that 'Mount Blanc was much colder than I expected. But, Matterhorn, which is more technically challenging, is about the ability to climb and come down without getting injured. It is very steep and rocky, so if not careful you can fall and get injured and sometimes die. Even when I was tired, I was very careful and determined to get back safe.
Motivating other Qatari youth and adventurers like him, Badar asked them to 'follow your dream and fulfill challenges. Raise Qatari flag wherever possible and be an ambassador of your country in whatever you do.
Prior to this, in a single journey between May 22-23 Badar had raised the Qatari flag on Everest and Lhotse, becoming the first Arab to do this.
Read Also: Qatari makes history as first Arab to reach Everest and Lhotse peaks
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