Caribbean woman climbs highest peak in Antarctica

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A Trinidad & Tobago woman has become the first person from Trinidad & Tobago to summit Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.

Safia Hosein stood on the summit of Mount Vinson on Christmas Day, Monday December 25th, at 6:14 pm.

The Biche-born climber posted pictures of herself on the summit of the mountain holding the national flag of Trinidad and Tobago and a sign proclaiming the name of her hometown.

“On the 25th of December 2023 I became the first citizen of Trinidad and Tobago to summit the highest mountain on the snow-covered desolate continent of ANTARCTICA. I stood on the top of Mt Vinson at 18:14 proudly flying the red, white, and black AND the name of my hometown. Because it doesn’t matter where I am on the planet, I will always be a “Biche Girl,” Hosein wrote on her Facebook page.

Vinson Massif is the largest mountain in Antarctica, with an elevation of 4,892 meters.

It is located on the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains near the base of the Antarctic peninsula.

Hosein, who is a helicopter captain, has visited over 60 counties and has previously trekked through the Himalayas to the Everest base camp.

Among her other exploits are climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, trekking the active volcano Mount Nyiragongo, and visiting the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago’s Safia Hosein on Mount Vinson in Antartica. (Photo credit – Safia Hosein)