7 Summits
AIDS awareness month, Dec 2008
"The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response.
In particular it requires solidarity...between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor and, above all, between richer and poorer nations.
We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get before we wake up?" Kofi Annan
Next mountain: Aconcagua!
Having successfully summitted the 1st 2 mountains in her 7 Summits quest, Deshun's focus is now on Aconcagua.
Facts, figures, fables
The "7 Summits" are the highest mountain on each of the 7 continents
Africa - Kilimanjaro
Antarctica - Vinson Massif
Asia - Mount Everest
Europe - Mount Elbrus
North America - Denali (also called Mount McKinley)
Oceania - Puncak Jaya (also Carstenz Pyramid)
South America - Aconcagua
7 Summits project - climbing schedule
The 7 Summits program launched in April 2007 with a trek to Everest South Base Camp in Nepal.
Deshun was accompanied by Daley Thompson - renowned UK former Olympic decathlete gold medallist and fellow Laureus Sport for Good member - and the trek was sponsored by the Laureus Foundation, South African Chapter, headed by Morne du Plessis
In August 2007 Deshun left for Mt Elbrus (Europe's highest mountain) in Russia on an expedition sponsored by 1st for Women Insurance Brokers. She summitted Elbrus in glorious weather on 8 August and returned to SA to plan the next of her 7 Summits expeditions.
On 12 January 2008, again generously sponsored by 1st for Women Insurance Brokers, she summited Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent. The expedition group included included the winners of competitions run in "O' magazine and the 1st for Women website as well as representatives from the 1st for Women organisation.
She will then tackle the remaining 5 mountains in the 7 Summits project: Puncak Jaya (Indonesia - Oceania), Aconcagua (Argentina - South America), Denali (Alaska - North America) and Vinson Massif (Antarctica).
Arrangements for the next 2 expeditions are at an advanced stage and details will be announced on this website as soon as they are available.
Training schedule
Paradoxically, although one needs to be strong and fit to climb mountains, climbing high altitude mountains must be done slowly - very slowly. Speed kills at high altitudes so the acclimatisation process is slow and measured with plenty of rest days to allow the body to adjust.
Acclimatisation to high altitudes has very little to do with fitness or physical strength - the slower you go the better the body acclimatises and the less problems you should have with the altitude.
