A Maltese rock climber is preparing to summit the highest mountain in South America to raise funds for abandoned animals.
Rita Saliba, 31, will attempt to scale Argentina’s Mount Aconcagua, a 6,962-metre peak known for extreme altitude and harsh weather conditions, in aid of the Association for Abandoned Animals (AAA).
She will begin the expedition in late December, with a summit push scheduled for early January, depending on weather conditions.
Saliba, who works in business analytics, has previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest mountain, where she witnessed a fatal fall that left her deeply shocked and paralysed with fear.
Rita Saliba on Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest mountain.It did not put her off, however, and she is working towards completing the Seven Summits Challenge.
Earlier this year, she also climbed the expert-level grade 7c sport route – “a difficulty ranking that currently makes me the strongest female rock climber based in Malta”.
Saliba will join an international team for the expedition but will represent Malta.
“It is not only a personal challenge, but also a way to raise awareness and funds for the vital work AAA does in Malta,” she said about what is going to be a combination of “adventure, endurance and a meaningful cause”.
Aconcagua poses serious physical and mental challenges, despite being a non-technical climb. Oxygen levels at the summit can drop to just 40 per cent of those at sea level and temperatures can fall below -20°C. Saliba says the altitude is a big concern.
“I am also aware that the weather can change suddenly, with fierce winds and extreme cold, so preparation and adaptability will be key,” she says.
Rita Saliba on top of Mount Kilimanjaro.Only a handful of Maltese climbers have reached Aconcagua’s summit.
Saliba was introduced to climbing during a campervan trip to the Dolomites with her now-husband. She quickly fell in love with the support and has been pursuing progressively harder challenges ever since.
To prepare for Aconcagua she is currently undergoing a strict training regime that includes building strength, endurance and altitude preparation.
“I work on building full-body strength three to four times a week, focusing on legs, core and grip, which are all essential for carrying heavy loads and maintaining stability on uneven terrain,” Saliba outlined.
The weather can change suddenly, with fierce winds and extreme cold, so preparation and adaptability will be key
She is also continuing her climbing to keep her fingers and upper body strong but is keeping the level of difficulty moderate for now since the summer heat and outdoor conditions are not ideal for pushing harder routes.
“My endurance work is mainly made up of long-distance runs, along with high-intensity cardio sessions to boost lung capacity. This helps prepare for the long days on the mountain and the reduced oxygen levels at high altitude,” she explained.
In September, she will travel to Italy to run at around 800 metres of elevation and later spend two weeks at 2,000 metres in Cervinia to acclimatise before her climb.
She is also fine-tuning her gear, testing boots and sleeping bags in various conditions and planning her mountain nutrition to manage the appetite loss common at high altitude.
Rita Saliba (right) at the Association for Abandoned Animals (AAA).“Every item has to be reliable because, at that altitude, equipment failures can be dangerous.”
She will share her progress on social media and plans to give talks before and after the climb to encourage donations.
Saliba chose AAA as her cause because the association’s work for abandoned and mistreated animals in Malta is “close to my heart”. Always passionate about animal welfare, she wanted to support AAA because it relies entirely on donations, and “every bit of awareness helps”.
The mountaineer will be setting up a Revolut account where people can send contributions directly. She will also be using AAA’s normal donation lines so supporters can contribute through their usual channels.