Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh's Jyoti Ratre has achieved the distinction of becoming the oldest Indian woman to scale Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain on the European continent at the age of 52.
Ratre had accompanied a team of four mountaineers from the capital's 360 degree explorer adventure club to Moscow.
She left the country to fulfill her 5,642 meter high dream on July 2. Ratre said it was a tough climb and full of difficulties due to temperature drop.
There were times when she questioned her spirit, but then she gathered her courage and finished the trek, she said. Mountains have taught her a way of life that she is proud of, she added.
She said it was never too late to follow dreams. She got an opportunity at her age and she leapt to grab it, she added.
All the members of the team have achieved the feat. They reached the top of the peak at 9.04 am on Thursday.
Her guide Aznaur Akkaev said he was proud of the team and knew they would achieve the feat even before they began their stride.
She has also become the first Indian to get such a distinction post Covid-19 lockdown.
My Elbrus is one of the most famous mountain to be scaled by mountaineers from across the world.