'Mount Denali more dangerous than Everest'; Kerala mountaineer Shaikh Hassan reportedly safe

CALIFORNIA: Malayali mountaineer Shaikh Hassan Khan, trapped on Mount Denali in North America, is reportedly safe. Shaikh Hassan came with a video message to inform the same and said that he would soon head back to Kerala. Hassan, a mountaineer, opined that Mount Denali is more dangerous than Everest due to the sudden shift in weather.

"I climbed Mount Denali in 2023. Denali is more dangerous than Mount Everest. I also went to help my friend from Tamil Nadu climb Mount Denali. We can never predict the weather there. It can change at any time. I went to Denali for an 18-day mountaineering expedition with 70 kilograms of equipment. It was after providing training that I took my friend along for the expedition.

I climbed Denali in five camps. The fifth camp was full of challenges and hidden dangers. I ran into trouble after hoisting the Indian flag. On May 15, while returning from this camp, my friend got her period, and she got drowsy all of a sudden. We were at the camp that day, and suddenly a storm came out of nowhere. The situation was getting worse. Even during the storm, I went out and tried to contact many people on the phone, but most of them ignored it, thinking it was a spam call.

Finally, a friend picked up the phone. He was the one who informed the Rangers about the situation. During these days, I got to know about the greatness of India. The support and help received from all quarters have indeed upped our confidence. India gave us tremendous support."

Shaikh Hassan Khan recently shared his happiness on realising his dream of becoming the first Malayali to conquer the highest peaks of all seven continents. Climbing Mount Denali requires excellent physical fitness and experience. Although hundreds of people attempt to conquer the peak every year, reports say that only less than half of them manage to complete it. More than 120 people have died on Denali since 1932.

Shaikh Hassan Khan is the son of MA Ali Ahmed Khan and Jeshahida, natives of Poozhikkad, Pandalam. He was working as an Assistant Section Officer in the Finance Department in the Secretariat. Hassan conquered Everest in 2022. He has also conquered Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia.