The Herald "Lafemme", Aug 2007
Deshun reaches summit – but five still to go
UITENHAGE-BORN mountaineer Deshun Deysel had her head in the clouds last week when she reached the top of the highest mountain in Europe – the second of the coveted Seven Summits she hopes to conquer around the world.
La Femme called Deshun via satellite phone in rural Russia as she was returning from her ascent of Mount Elbrus. At 5 642m Elbrus is one of the Seven Summits – the highest peak on each of the earth‘s seven continents – that she plans to master before July 2009.
 |
| Deshun Deysel (inset) summits Mount Elbrus in Russia. |
“It‘s been a thrill to stand on top of Elbrus and to realise that one dream,” she said, on a remarkably clear line. “It was a perfect summer day but it was tough and physically demanding.
“The ascent was long and arduous but, of course, we had to come all that way back down the glacier, not a picnic and especially not after the elation of the summit.”
Deshun already has been on Everest twice and in 2003, reached a personal best of 8 300m above sea level – the death zone – before being forced back by treacherous weather only 550m from the top.
“I got that close and it is absolutely still on my list.”
Deshun also was on the ill-fated team led by Ian Woodall team to Mount Everest 11 years ago. The second time she attempted Everest she says, “I prayed every second!”
All in all, she still plans to climb Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) in North America at 6 194m, Vinson in Antarctica at 4 897m, Aconcagua in South America at 6 959m, Kosciuszko in Australasia at 2 228m and the menacing Everest in Asia at massive 8 850m. Although she has climbed Kilimanjaro twice, she will be scaling this Kenyan giant again as part of the Seven Summit drive.
Now 37, she launched this campaign in April in Nepal and hopes, in the process, to raise funds for Childline in South Africa.
However, climbing is expensive and Deshun, formerly a teacher, also gives motivational talks to raise funds. Fortunately, First for Women sponsored Elbrus and Kilimanjaro, which she plans to climb in January 2008.
Although the Deysel family left Uitenhage when Deshun was 13 to settle in what was then the Transvaal, she still has fond memories of her younger days here. And it was while living at the top of a hill at 18 Laner Road, looking down towards Duck Street and out into the countryside beyond, that the seeds of her adventurous future life were sown.
“Just beyond the valley there were mountains and I remember that I had a yearning to go there and look for myself,” she said.
Although it‘s a male dominated field, she believes that women make great mountaineers.
“I‘ve discovered that when I climb with a softer, more feminine, energy I am actually more likely to summit than if I use a harder, male energy, chasing all the time.
“Women are often far more patient and flexible and I‘ve seen how woman outclimb men with that softer approach. You have to be patient because sometimes you spend days in your head, just reflecting, as you wait for the weather.”
On the downside, “women‘s bodies do take a beating”, she said.
“After an expedition there are all sorts of bruises and aches so right now I most feel like visiting a spa and doing some shopping – I‘m a real ‘girl‘!”
Deshun is the only black female high altitude mountaineer in the world and as a result of her extensive mountaineering experience she is well placed to attempt to reach the top of the Seven Summits.
In her talks she shares her perspective on being a mountaineer, a team member (often the only woman on the climbing team), a business person and, most importantly to her, a woman. In fact, chocolate, lipstick and baby wipes are key articles in her backpack.
“Mountaineering has taught me to remain focused on the end result when it seems like chaos reigns,” she says.
