Doha – Sofia Moughil, a 19-year-old Moroccan commerce student in England and former student of Lycée Descartes in Rabat, has become the youngest Moroccan woman to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 meters.
In a recent interview, Moughil described her journey, which began with her early exposure to mountain hiking. “My father introduced me to the mountains when I was young. He’s a great lover of mountain hiking, and I had the opportunity to do a lot of hiking with him,” she explained.
The ascent, completed in seven days with five days up and two days down, required intense preparation. “About three to four months before my departure for Mount Kilimanjaro, I created a sports program. I would run three times a week between 7 and 12 kilometers and complemented this with gym sessions,” Moughil said.
Despite being naturally athletic with regular engagement in running, gym workouts, pilates, yoga, and dance, Moughil faced significant challenges during the climb. “It’s seven very intense days physically and mentally. The body is physically shocked because we walk about five to six hours a day in the cold at minus 15 degrees, waking up every morning at six,” she detailed.
Altitude posed the biggest challenge for Moughil. “The biggest fear regarding this ascent was the altitude because it’s a major challenge for Mount Kilimanjaro. At 5,885 meters, it’s very high for the body, and each body reacts differently to altitude,” she said. She experienced severe headaches and fatigue, particularly during a climb from 3,900 to 4,700 meters in one morning.
Upon reaching the summit, Moughil experienced an overwhelming sense of achievement. “I think I will never forget it in my life. It’s a feeling of accomplishment, of success, because we’ve been struggling for five days, walking with a single objective in mind – to reach the summit,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Moughil is already contemplating her next challenge. “I think my next challenge would be to explore the mountains of Nepal, maybe Everest, but probably not all the way to the top,” she said.
Her message to others is clear: “Life is short, and you have to dare to step out of your comfort zone. I set myself an extreme challenge out of nowhere, without any mountain experience, and I think it’s good proof that we can all achieve our goals with a little willpower and determination.”
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