Despite having no prior experience in mountaineering, 15-year-old Mohammad Shamil Azim Mohd Suhaimi did not let that stop him from reaching the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) in Nepal.
Sharing his experience, Mohammad Shamil said he embarked on the trek alongside a close friend and mentor figure, 27-year-old Khairi Safri.
“The idea to climb the mountain came from Khairi, who wanted to reach Annapurna Base Camp after his previous attempt in 2014 was unsuccessful. When he invited me, I immediately agreed, even though I had never climbed a mountain before,” he said during an interview yesterday.
Mohammad Shamil revealed that his preparation was limited to a few weeks before departing for Nepal on December 31.
“Honestly, I was worried throughout the climb because my training was not complete. I only managed running and cycling as preparation,” he admitted. “Alhamdulillah, the journey to the base camp went smoothly, and we safely reached Annapurna on January 7.”
He described the moment of reaching Annapurna Base Camp as an invaluable experience, as he had never imagined having the opportunity to climb such a mountain.
“What made it even more special was being able to raise the flag of my school, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (L) Methodist Sentul, at the base camp at an altitude of 4,130 meters above sea level. After this, Khairi and I plan to conquer the mountain again and tick it off our wish list,” he added.
His father, 60-year-old Mohd Suhaimi Janah, said he gave permission for Mohammad Shamil to undertake the climb because he believed in his youngest son’s capabilities.
“When my son first mentioned that Khairi wanted to invite him for the climb, I thought they were joking. But when Khairi came to our house to ask for permission, I realized they were serious. I had no hesitation in allowing him to go because I trust his ability and his passion for adventure sports,” he said.
Mohd Suhaimi, a retired police officer, added that he fully supports his son’s interest and is grateful to Khairi for sponsoring the entire trek.
“I hope Mohammad Shamil’s interest and dedication to adventure sports will continue to grow, and our family will always support him,” he said.
