A Jordanian's journey to the top of the world

By Ali Al Khalil [originally published January 2004]

AMMAN -- "When there is a will, there is a way," is how the saying goes. But when it comes to Jordanian Mustafa Salameh and his will, there is only one way possible: Through a path that after a 12-month journey is set to take him over the highest summit of Mount Everest in the Himalayas. A feat that - if achieved - will make the 33-year-old the first Arab to reach the topmost point on earth.

"The idea first crossed my mind during a visit to India in 2001. But when I found out that no Arab has done it before, I decided that I'm definitely doing it," Salameh told The Star. Edinburgh resident, Salameh is no stranger to adventure. The certified scuba diver - with more than 50 open-water dives - is also an avid hiker, whose visit to India in 2001 was part of an exploration that lasted for six months and also took him to Nepal, Tibet and China; visiting such mesmerizing places like Kashmir, Leh and the 6,700m-above-sea-level lake of Chandartal.

Unfortunately for Salameh, he will miss the March 2004 expedition that is heading to Everest, located in Nepal, due to his higher than required heartbeat, which currently stands at 69 beats per minute; while to climb to the top of the 8,850m above sea level mountain he needs to bring down his heartbeat to 55bps, which can be achieved through training.

Source: [The Star]

Despite the delay, the International Hospitality and Tourism Management graduate is determined more than ever to go ahead with his dream. I plan to make the March 2005 expedition, as I will spend the next year training for it," Salameh announced, while expecting that he will be forced to leave his job as Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland.

"I will need to train on an eight-hour a day schedule throughout the coming year, with courses and training sessions taking me from Scotland to Wales, Switzerland and Nepal, before being 100 percent ready to take on this challenge," Salameh said. The preparation will cover aspects like stamina, overall fitness, back muscles, breathing, concentration and mountaineering skills.

Salameh's rigorous training regimen during the upcoming year is set to cost him up to $260,000, but the former gym instructor is feeling confident that he will manage to get a sponsor for his trip.

"I've already been contacted by several interested parties, but I'm holding up and waiting for a Jordanian sponsor - I want to place the Jordanian flag on top of the peak when I get there and not some other country's flag." Salameh affirmed.

The potential sponsor will have to take care of the cost of Salameh's training, traveling, climbing gear and his personal expenses - mortgage, food and others - since he will be quitting his job to concentrate on training.

Salameh has already contacted several local companies and is feeling good about his chances to get the financial backing he seeks. He has also contacted TV and Radio stations, trying to explore potentials with them; Salameh aims to get the entire journey on tape. Salameh also plans to get a wireless Internet connection during the journey to be able to send direct messages and digital images to all interested media outlets.

Salameh's interest in getting a camera with him and recording the journey is because of what he labels his "real passion and the actual hidden reason for this trip."

"I love documentaries. I've been watching documentaries since I was a kid and I've always been dreaming about making one myself." he said. It's due to the "lack of good Arabic documentaries production" that Salameh's determination grew with time as he feels a "pressing need to produce something in Arabic and dedicated to Arabs that will open their minds to other cultures, religions and civilizations," according to Salameh. "This is why a lot of Arabs are judgmental and sometimes fail to see the big picture," he continued.

Salameh, who is an avid reader with a passion for Indian culture and language, recalled one of his favorite stories that he heard in that ancient country. "An Indian philosopher that they used to call 'the wisest of the wise' once told his students that the only judgment a human can pass is when distinguishing between a flower and human excrement. But an apprentice of the wise man exclaimed 'flowers come from waste', and the man nodded with a smile," Salameh said.

After working briefly in Jordan at the Le Royal Hotel, Salameh went back to Edinburgh where he is currently doing his Masters in the same field of tourism management, while also taking a course in Adult Psychology. In addition, he speaks French and Japanese, and he can fluently use the International Sign Language. Add to the list Salameh's Intermediate Bodyguard qualification and a good idea about his determination to learn and explore new frontiers will be formed.

While honing his knowledge and skills by getting all the certifications and courses he wanted, Salameh's fascination with Everest persisted.

"When I came back to Scotland from my India trip I kept on researching the issue and reading about the Everest. People think it's very dangerous, while actually it's not. It's risky, like a lot of the things we do in life, but definitely not as dangerous as you might think," Salameh said.

"The first two people to climb the Everest were Sir Edmund Hillary and his Nepalese companion [Sherpa Tenzing Norgay] more than 50 years ago. Now, it is much easier with all the high-tech stuff that people are using," Salameh noted, as he explained that each expedition contains more than 20 trekkers, four of which are "experienced instructors who are very well familiar with the route to the top."

There are seven camps on the way to the top of Mount Everest; at each camp, the explorers stay for a couple of days to rest and get their food supplies. However, the expedition usually leaves the seventh camp during the 19th day of the 61-day trip, as the travelers will spend the remaining 42 days ascending to the top with no stations to stop at. Still, the route to the peak is known to experienced climbers, as all experts agree tht the only true hazard might be the possibility of bad weather.

Despite the assurance that this adventure's risk is minimized these days, Salameh has not been receiving the support that he wished for.

"My dad has been encouraging me to do it, he even told me once that if he was a bit younger he would have joined me. However, my mom is all against the idea." Some of my friends are against it as well. But most of the times when I explain the whole idea in details, people begin to understand and the start showing me more support," Salameh said.

Despite the lack of all-out encouragement, the potential risks and the on-going search for sponsors, Salameh is keeping his high spirit and resolve. "I've studied it well and I know what to expect," he said.

"I'm dedicating this whole year to make it work. I will put my everything in this."