Meet the man who scaled every continent in the world

There’s no mountain high enough for 34 year old Satyarup Siddhanta, who has recently completed his 'Seven Summits' Journey. With the successful summit of Vinson Massif, Antarctica in December 2017, Siddhanta is now part of a select club that has completed this arduous expedition.

Here’s a timeline of all the summits that Siddhanta has climbed:

• June 29, 2012: Mount Kilimanjaro (19,308 ft)- The highest peak of Africa
• June 27, 2013: Mount Elbrus (18,510 ft)- The highest mountain of Europe.
• January 13, 2014: Mount Aconcagua (22,841 ft)- Highest Mountain in Argentina, South America.
• June 23, 2014: Mount Denali (20,322 ft)- The highest mountain in Alaska, North America.
• June 12, 2015: Mount Kosciuszko (7,310 ft)- The highest peak in Australia.
• May 21, 2016: Mount Everest (29,029 ft)- The highest mountain in the World.
• December 15, 2017: Vinson Massif (16,050 ft)- The highest peak in Antarctica.

While talking to Republic TV, Siddhanta speaks about his challenges, inspirations and what he carries in his rucksack. 

• What inspires you to take on these challenges?

Every step in high altitude is like a miracle for me as I am an asthmatic. And I feel that if I can do it, anyone can. Everyone has many mountains to climb in one’s life, not the literal mountains but in the form of obstacles, so I just want to inspire them that anyone can do it.

• Out of all the peaks you have climbed, which is that one special climb?

Mount Denali in Alaska was very challenging, as we decided to go unguided for the lack of finances. We were caught in a blizzard, I suffered first degree frostbite but in the end when we made it to the top it was just amazing.

After climbing Vinson Massif in Antarctica, I also skied the last degree to South pole 111 km for 6 days and climbed the highest active volcano in the world after that. That was a great experience too.

• While every Indian parent wants their child to be an engineer or a doctor, how did your family respond to your mountaineering dreams?

Well I am a software engineer, so that’s taken care of. Initially they were very scared and concerned but recently I have bought this device through which they can track me live and connect with me while I am climbing. So now it’s much better.

But sometimes it also backfires, like once while we were climbing the Mt. Everest, the device fell out of my pocket and as it showed no movement for hours, everyone thought I was dead, he says laughing.

•  What do you carry in your rucksack when you are climbing?

All the essentials really, I have emergency food, a headlight, a wind-proof jacket and a camera to record all of it.

• What is that one special moment that you remember from all your journeys so far?

It was when I paid tribute to mountaineer Malli Mastan Babu in Tres Cruces Sur, Chile, where he had died while climbing the peak.

• So what’s next on the list for this mountaineer?

Highest volcano in Antarctica- Mt. Sidley in 2019, he says.