SINGAPORE: Singapore adventurer Ms Jane Lee has set
off to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
She was sent off Friday morning by Environment and
Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and members of the
Swiss bank, Julius Bär.
Dr Balakrishan is the patron of the Seven Summits
expedition.
The bank is sponsoring her climb, which is expected to take eight
days.
To prepare, the 27-year-old underwent a tough physical regimen of
endurance runs, stair-climbing and gym sessions.
"The single most difficult challenge will be the weather
conditions...because I think weather on mountains are usually
extremely unpredictable," said Ms Lee.
A few of the bank's staff will be scaling the mountain with her,
including Dr Markus Kobler, Singapore deputy chief executive for
Julius Bär.
"Physically, I've been training about at least once a day over the
last six months. I've been trying to get enough sleep, and I've
also stopped drinking any alcohol for the last few months so (I'm)
looking forward to my first beer after climb," said Dr
Kobler.
After Kilimanjaro, Ms Lee will be heading to Russia to climb Mount
Elbrus in July.
If she is successful, Ms Lee could well be the first woman in
Southeast Asia to have scaled the world's seven summits.
Besides Mount Everest, Ms Lee has already climbed Mount Aconcagua
in Argentina, Mount McKinley in Alaska, Mount Vinson in Antarctica
and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia.
- CNA/cc