REMBAU (BERNAMA) – Seeing the ‘Jalur Gemilang’ flying majestically on the peak of a mountain he just “conquered” never fails to fill N Elanghovan with an overwhelming sense of pride. It also makes him realise every sacrifice he made, including selling his house, to climb three of the world’s highest mountains has been well worth it. All the more remarkable is that he accomplished these feats in his 60s, a time when most of his peers are content with resting at home or playing with their grandchildren.
“I feel immensely proud to be able to raise the Malaysian flag each time I complete a climbing mission. And, as I gaze at the beauty of my surroundings from a mountain summit, I feel all my sacrifices have been worthwhile,” said the 65-year-old Tenaga Nasional Bhd retiree who now resides in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. He told Bernama he summited three of the highest peaks in the world over a six-year period – the 5,895-metre (m)-high Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in 2018, Mount Everest (8,849m) in Nepal four years later, and Mount Denali (6,190m) in Alaska in the United States in June last year.
The last expedition saw Elanghovan reaching the peak of Mount Denali after 23 days of climbing without a mountain guide. MORE CHALLENGING THAN EVEREST He said climbing Mount Denali was the toughest experience he had ever faced, having to contend with freezing temperatures of as low as -30 degrees Celsius (°C), along with blustery winds and snowstorms that truly test.
