Midrand resident ready to take on Everest
MIDRAND – Alda Waddell and Tumi Mphahlele will be part of the first all-female team from Africa to climb Mount Everest.
Midrand residents Alda Waddell and Tumi Mphahlele have joined a group of courageous women who will take on Mount Everest in 2020.
Waddell and Mphahlele will be part of the first all-female team from Africa to summit Mount Everest alongside Lisa Gering and Deshun Deysel with mountaineer and founder of Adventures Global Ronnie Muhl handling the logistics for the trip.
Spokesperson for the team Lisa Gering said, “Alda set her heart on climbing Everest and started the ball rolling. She contacted Deshun who said yes, as long as Ronnie Muhl manages the logistics. Ronnie recommended me to join the team, which I was excited and delighted to do. We knew we needed a fourth member and searched until we found Tumi, who is very experienced and perfect for the challenge.”
Besides being avid mountaineers, Waddell and Mphahlele are experienced leaders in business. Waddell works full-time as a specialist in Sub-Saharan operations and special project for BMW South Africa and Mphahlele works as director and shareholder of renewable energy companies IG3N and Amperion Energy.
Both share a keen interest in conquering the seven summits. Waddell’s journey began in 2008 when she set out to climb Kilimanjaro and began her quest to climb the highest mountain on each continent. Mphahlele is a recreational endurance athlete and has already climbed three of the seven summits including Kilimanjaro, Elbrus and Aconcagua.
Mphahlele said, “When you are in it, and you are battling through the climb, but you get to the end. You realise your own strength. You gain the confidence to do more climbs.”
Waddell added, “Once you finish a climb you will ask yourself ‘what’s next?’ You can’t wait to do the next climb.”
The team are currently preparing for next year’s trip. In terms of preparation, Mphahlele said they are mentally preparing for the big climb together which has helped to bring their team closer as they help each other by sharing their individual experiences with climbing while building their confidence for the climb.
They are currently seeking sponsorship until the climb. They hope to secure R5 million for the team to start next year.
Details: Public relations officer Neke Ndlovu 011 264 0881.
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