PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE
At 53, Gurmeet Sharda (Meetu), a consultant psychologist, an educationist and an Army officer’s wife, recently summited Mount Elbrus, Europe and Russia’s highest peak, at 5,642 metres (18,510 feet) above sea level in August.
Originally from Chandigarh and now based in Delhi, Sharda was part of a team of five Indian women climbers from across the country, her being the eldest, who successfully reached the summit.
She started running at the age of 46. What began as a fitness journey gradually became a passion for endurance and mountaineering. She went on to participate in several 10-kilometre runs and distance-running events and earned a gold medal in the 50–60 age category.
After turning 50, she began achieving major milestones in mountaineering, climbing the 6,476 metres Mera Peak in Nepal (51), 6,111 metres Mount Yunam in India (52) and finally Mount Erebus this year.
Each climb has taken her one step closer to her biggest dream — completing the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on all seven continents.
She states that the Mount Elbrus expedition was far from easy.
Unpredictable weather, freezing temperatures, strong winds and rapidly changing mountain conditions forced the team to wait several days for a safe weather window.
After days of waiting, favourable conditions finally arrived on August 20–21. Despite the extreme cold, powerful winds and demanding high-altitude conditions, Sharda and her team remained determined. On August 21, they reached the summit of Mount Elbrus, where she proudly raised the Indian Tricolour.
“Age is only a number; dreams have no age. From starting running at 46 to standing on the summit of Mount Elbrus at 53, I feel it is never too late to reach for a higher goal,” she said.
