A long-cherished dream. A massive snow-capped mountain summit. And a woman driven by sheer determination—Safrina Latheef’s story is nothing short of cinematic. Until her Everest climb, every adventure had been a shared journey with her husband, Dr. Shameel Musthafa. But when injuries forced Shameel to pull back twice, Safrina decided to take on the Everest challenge by herself. What awaited her was nature at its most extreme: crumbling ice blocks the size of buildings, bottomless crevasses, a harsh mix of snow and sunshine, and the haunting sight of bodies of those who had once walked the same path before her. There were countless reasons to turn back. But Safrina chose to push ahead. Her perseverance made history as she reached the summit on May 18, 2025, at 10:25 AM Nepal time. A true pride in the history of Malayali women, Safrina’s journey has left an indelible mark

How it all began

Adventure had been in Safrina’s heart since childhood. For her, an adventurous journey was a long-held dream that only began to materialise after her marriage to Shameel. “We had plenty of time during COVID-19. That’s when we started going to the gym. Soon, we began running and even participated in a half marathon. It had always been in our bucket list to climb Kilimanjaro and camp there. But marriage, a child, and work kept life packed. That period of fitness training became a stepping stone for me,” she recalls.
Her mountaineering journey began in 2021 with Kilimanjaro, which sparked her desire to scale more peaks. Next year, they climbed Aconcagua in Argentina, which stands nearly 7,000 metres high. In 2023, she trekked to Mount Everest’s base camp. In 2024, she and her husband conquered Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. These adventures required intense training. After completing Aconcagua, they began wondering what could come next. Of course, the highest of all was Everest—and that’s when they decided it would be their next goal. “However, Everest requires intense preparation. It’s not like the mountaineering we’d done until then. The extreme altitude & weather, snow, crevasses and risk of avalanches—there was so much to consider. As soon as we returned to Qatar, I found a trainer,” she says.

The path to the summit

Sheer endurance and willpower powered Safrina through her Everest journey. By then, she had undergone four years of mountaineering-specific training, which prepared her for the challenge. “A healthy diet also helped me keep my body fit for mountaineering,” she shares.

Recalling some of the harrowing sights along the way, Safrina says:

“Massive avalanches occurred all throughout the day, and snow kept falling. You have to cross bottomless crevasses on aluminum ladders in a heavy boots and crampon under it. Even though snow was all around, trekking in a summit suit under the blazing sun felt like inside an oven—but you couldn’t take off a single layer. Sometimes we had to walk over the bodies of those who had once carried the same dream. It was terrifying. I kept wondering—who will be the next to collapse? At times, I stood frozen, the thought racing through my mind: Will it be my body lying here next? I even thought about turning back. But I steeled my mind and promised myself I wouldn’t retreat until I made my dream come true.”

Something unexpected also happened. “I got my period the day before my summit. I didn’t anticipate that at all. We were only at Camp 4 then, and I didn’t have a sanitary pad with me. But I didn’t let it hinder my dream to summit. It was only when we reached back at Camp 2, two days later that I managed to get a pad.” she says.

Safrina’s group included climbers from all over the world, speaking different languages—but all sharing one dream: Everest. She overcame each obstacle and persevered until her dream became reality.

Reaching the summit

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her body. Yet the higher she climbed, the happier she felt—it meant she was one step closer to her destination. Even when breathless, she felt joy envelop her as she gazed down from the highest point on Earth. It was as if she was looking at a dream, a painting. A magical moment for an extraordinary woman.