Mountaineer Johann Peries sets out to conquer final summit in Seven Summits Challenge

Sri Lankan mountaineer Johann Peries is set to leave the island on June 8, heading to Alaska to take on Mount Denali (also known as Mount McKinley), the final summit remaining to complete the Seven Summits Challenge. Considered the most coveted mountaineering achievement, the challenge involves scaling the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.

- By Safrah Fazal

Upon summiting Mount Denali, Peries will become the first Sri Lankan to complete the Seven Summits Challenge—a feat accomplished by only around 360 individuals worldwide.

Speaking to Daily Mirror on June 4, Peries noted that it would take approximately 18 days to reach the summit of Mount Denali. In total, it is expected to take nearly 21 days to complete the climb of Alaska's highest peak.

Peries remains hopeful that he will have better luck this time, after his first attempt to summit Mount Denali in 2023 was unsuccessful. He was forced to turn back on Day 18—the final day of the summit—due to stormy weather. "This time, I'm going with a very positive mind, but of course, there are certain things that are beyond our control. Last time, it was the weather that held me back, but I'm hoping that this time I will have better luck, that the weather will hold, and I will be able to complete it. The nerves are there, but I think it's good to have that too, because then you won't get ahead of yourself. You'll take every precaution. I think I'm ready for it this time," he remarked.