Daniel Wolfson, the trailblazer who became the first Israeli woman to conquer Everest's peak, is now setting her sights on another monumental feat. She is on the brink of becoming the first Israeli to scale the seven highest summits across the globe's seven continents. In the coming month, Wolfson will make her way to Australia to ascend her final and relatively modest peak on the list - Mount Kosciuszko, standing at 7,310 ft.
In a conversation at the ynet studio, Wolfson shared her pre-climb jitters and her mission to shine a global spotlight on the plight of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. "My dream is to hoist the Israeli flag at the summit to honor the memory of those who have tragically lost their lives in conflict. We'll raise the flag as a plea for the safe return of the hostages to their homeland."
Compared to the rest, the ascent of the Australian mountain is seen as the "easiest" part of the 7 Summits challenge. Wolfson highlighted that globally, around 500 people have accomplished the 7 Summits challenge, of which merely about 70 are women. Doron Erel, the pioneer Israeli to scale Everest's summit, also holds the credit of being the first Israeli to complete the Seven Summits quest in 2000.
"I had initially planned to embark on the final mountain on October 7, but inevitably, the plans got postponed," Wolfson revealed. "As per the revised schedule, I aim to hit the peak on April 7, and I'll be joined by a group of Jewish climbers from Australia."
When asked if she relishes scaling tall mountains, Wolfson's response was unexpected, "I don't enjoy it." She elaborated, "The journey is certainly not pleasurable - sleeping on ice, consuming food that I can't stomach, battling malnourishment and cold. However, reaching the summit and standing there, raising the Israeli flag, and doing it as a woman, it's a feeling that simply surpasses all the hardships. It fuels my motivation and strength. When I'm on the mountain, I function like a robot, focused entirely on the mission that I need to accomplish."
Beyond the 7 Summits challenge, Wolfson is ambitiously aiming to etch her name in history as the first Israeli woman to scale the world's 14 highest summits. In her pursuit of this ambitious goal, she encountered a life-threatening incident last May. Amid her climb, she was caught in a violent storm when she was approximately 393 feet away from the pinnacle of Mount Makalu, the world's fifth highest mountain, towering at 27760 feet above sea level.
Wolfson, however, remains undeterred. "I am committed to returning to this mountain this year to accomplish my mission," she declared. She also shed light on the recent shift in the global perception of her Israeli identity.
"In the week following October 7, I received messages and expressions of interest from people worldwide. However, I've noticed a gradual withdrawal and detachment over time, with some even ceasing to communicate with me. But this only fuels my resolve to plant the Israeli flag at every camp and every location. Regardless of those who may harbor ill feelings toward us, it's important to remember that we have our own country, and its flag will proudly adorn every summit."
If she manages to successfully conquer the 7 Summits challenge, Wolfson's cumulative climb would amount to an impressive 133,200 feet across a span of 147 days. The challenges she is primed to complete include:
Mount Everest in Asia: The highest point is 29,031.7 feet above sea level.
Aconcagua in South America: The highest point is 22,841 feet above sea level.
Denali in North America: The highest point is 20,310 feet above sea level.
Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa: The highest point is 19,340 feet above sea level.
Mount Elbrus in Europe: The highest point is 18,510 feet above sea level.
Mount Vinson in Antarctica: The highest point is 16,050 feet above sea level.
Mount Kosciuszko in Australia: The highest point is 7,310 feet above sea level.
Alternatively, some versions of the challenge include Puncak Jaya (or Carstensz Pyramid) in Indonesia instead of Mount Kosciuszko. The highest point of Puncak Jaya is 16,024 feet above sea level.