Ma’rifah not only succeeded in hoisting the Red and White flag at the summit of Mount Elbrus on the very day of Indonesia’s Independence, August 17, but was also recognized as the first Indonesian woman to conquer the highest peak in Europe.
As reported by v8.unnes.ac.id, she reached an altitude of 5,642 meters above sea level (asl) alongside her teammates, Manikmaya Waskitojati and Mifthakul Ulum.
Victoria Voroshilova, a marketing staff member from the Alpindustria-Tour Adventure Team, confirmed this information. She noted that Ma’rifah was the first Indonesian woman to summit Mt. Elbrus from the northern side.
What makes the northern route particularly noteworthy compared to other paths? Khaerul Hamzah, the committee chairman, explained that the north side presents a higher difficulty level than the southern approach.
“The facilities are minimal, and the ascent must be undertaken gradually, as the route is longer. Unlike the southern side, which is the primary route for most climbers, facilitated by a cable car that assists climbers in reaching certain elevations, small huts with heating are available at each base camp for climbers to stay overnight. Snowmobiles continuously operate to monitor and transport climbers and skiing enthusiasts,” he stated.
However, with high spirits and resilience, Khaerul continued, they successfully planted the Red and White flag at Europe’s highest peak on August 17, 2011, at 16:45 local time. “They also raised the flag of Universitas Negeri Semarang despite having faced severe snowstorms just a day before,” he added.
In addition to their mission of flag-raising, the team exchanged information about Indonesian tourism and culture with foreign tourists they encountered, particularly during their stay at the lodge. The team also discussed topics with the Indonesian Student Association in Russia (Permira), including scholarships, environmental issues, social matters, culture, and Indonesia-Russia tourism. Furthermore, the team conducted comparative studies on search and rescue management and national park administration at Mount Elbrus and spent a day dialoguing with the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow.
According to the schedule, on Monday, August 22, the team is expected to return to Semarang at 18:30 WIB.
