Moroccan Alpinist Nawal Sfendla Takes Up Manaslu Summit Challenge in Himalayas

Rabat – The young Moroccan alpinist and seven summits challenger Nawal Sfendla has decided to take up the challenge of climbing the 8,163 meter-high Manaslu real summit in the Himalayas, the seventh highest mountain in Nepal.

Speaking to Morocco World News, Sfendla highlighted the intensive ice climbing training she has been undergoing alongside her “team of high experts,” with her ultimate goal being to climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain with a range spaning 8,849 meters above sea level.

The young alpinist has achieved several milestones throughout her mountain-climbing journey. She has climbed the 5,895-meter high Kilimanjaro Mount, a dormant volcano in Tanzania, as well as the 6,962 meter-high Acocagua in Argentina, the highest mountain in the Americas.

She has also climbed Mount Elbrus in Russia, the highest and most prominent peak in Russia and Europe, rising 5,642 meters above sea level. Sfendla has also climbed Morocco’s highest peaks of over 4,000 meters in six days.

Following her years-long mountain-climbing experience in several climates across the world, Sfendla decided to try her luck this September with Manaslu – meaning the “Spirit Mountain” — the Moroccan alpinist’s first 8,000-meter peak. Sfendla’s Manaslu expedition “possibly” makes her “the youngest Moroccan in the world summiting this mountain,” she indicated.

Sfendla and her team began their routine training after arriving at the Manaslu base camp at 4,800-meters. Their hope is that this period of acclimatization training will allow the Moroccan alpinist to “get enough knowledge on this field” and ultimately help her reach the higher camps, she noted. The climbing enthusiast proudly planted the Moroccan flag at the camp near her tent.

Sfendla began her first rotation last Tuesday. She reached the first camp, located 5,300-meters above sea level, by taking a route full of crevasses and avalanches. She spent one night at the location, then took “a rough route of ice climbing” toward the second camp (6,400 meters), where she spent two nights and “hiked a bit up to acclimatize well enough.”

Sfendla and her team are currently back at the second base camp, waiting for “a good weather window for the summit push,” she added. Even in the fall season, the weather at Manaslu can sometimes be unstable, with colder days and unexpected rain.

The Moroccan alpinist has been documenting her journey on Instagram with her over 50,000 followers, posting updates about her challenging, yet rewarding, ice climbing adventure in Nepal.

Meanwhile, proud of the tough challenge she has taken, Sfendla’s followers have been expressing their support and encouragement for the young Moroccan alpinist every step of the way.

Describing the expedition as a “wonderful experience,” Sfendla said: “It was super tough and scary but everyone’s support and advice pushes you to go further.”