All seven summits on the horizon for Garduce

MANILA—Romi Garduce seeks another milestone in an already checkered mountaineering career when he attempts to complete the Seven Summits Expedition late this year.

Garduce, fresh from a successful climb of the Carstenz Pyramid in Indonesia, will try to summit the 16,067-foot Vinson Massif in the Antarctic in December and become the first Filipino to conquer the world’s seven highest mountains.

So far, only 179 mountaineers have completed the Seven Summits Expedition, only 15 of them from Asia.

Joining Garduce is fellow University of the Philippines mountaineer and environmental advocate Levi Nayahangan.

“More than the climb, the challenge will be the weather,” said Garduce in an interview recently arranged by television network GMA. “But we are determined to put the Philippine flag and establish a record.”

Garduce faces harsh conditions on the mountain near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula where temperatures hover below zero all year round.

“The expedition is a testament that we Filipinos value our tenancy on Earth,” said Garduce, whose climb will be documented by GMA via the “Seven Summits Expedition of 2011” special.

“It takes more than competence and training to be a winner in this adventure sport. We derive meaning only if we back the climb to the summit with a cause.”

Garduce has successfully climbed six of the seven peaks since 2002.

He started his conquest on Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2002, Mt. Aconcagua in South America in 2005, Mt. Everest in 2006, Mt. Elbrus in Europe in 2007 and Denali Peak in North America in 2008—the same year he conquered Mt. Koscuiszko in Australia.