73-Year-Old Malaysian ‘Iron Lady’ Conquers Everest Base Camp

No matter how old you get, the thrill of adventure will always try to beguile you. Suzie Oliver, a 73-year-old national from Malaysia embarked on a challenging endeavor overcoming the challenges posed by old age and challenging terrain. 

Nicknamed the ‘Iron Lady,’ Oliver covered an unimaginable feat, etching her name in the annals of mountaineering history. Let us go through this article to find out how the grandmother pushes her limits to pursue her dreams and passions.  

Fulfilling climbing aspirations defying all odds

In the age when Oliver conquered the Everest base camp, most people prefer to savor the comfort of retirement. On the other hand, the 73-year-old took up the challenge of ticking off the last wish on her bucket list. Oliver underwent rigorous physical training to keep herself fit. 

Before this expedition to the Everest base camp, she engaged in a climbing spree, including scaling Mount Kinabalu in May and a challenging 25-hour ascent to the summit of G7 Mountain (Yong Belar) in August. It was two weeks after the final ascent that Oliver set out on the daring adventure accompanied by two friends in their 40s and 50s, along with a seasoned guide and two porters. On their way, they had been subjected to hindrances, including tiring hours of trekking on rugged terrain exposed to unpredictable weather.  

Oliver enlightened others about the challenges she faced on the way in her interview with The Straits Times, “There were no roads. Just gravel everywhere and no vehicles. Along the way, there were people in their houses and animals. The weather was about 16 deg C during the day and dropped to minus in the night.”

Experimenting with different sports: Oliver’s versatile nature

On her way up to the base camp, Oliver received the unwavering support of her fellow trekkers while the breathtaking view accompanied her all throughout the journey replacing her exhaustion with the drive to move forward. She ensured to keep an eye on the way forward and not to look down and be intimidated by the vertiginous heights. 

Read More: 64-Year-Old Grandfather of Two Stuns the World by Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Oliver prefers to live an active life and has traversed other physical activities beyond climbing. Her passion for physical fitness commenced when her daughter suggested she take part in a marathon in 2007. She has been a regular participant in various races and ensured to include her family to make the triumphs memorable. In the company of her daughter and granddaughter, she competed in the 10km Spartan race that took place in Singapore and managed to beat the rest 800 participants emerging as the winner in her age group. 

In the United States, Suzie Oliver has also taken part in cycling races and exhibits her flexible nature to be able to adjust to any sport. The old bucket list is covered with the Everest base camp summit, she is ready with a whole new list that includes scaling another mountain in Nepal in the upcoming year. Hence, the ‘Iron Lady’ of Malaysia will continue to inspire future generations with her indomitable spirit reminding them that it is never too late to follow one’s passion. 

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