Move over, daredevil grandmas. Suzie Oliver, the 73-year-old Malaysian grandma they call the “Iron Lady,” just conquered Mount Everest’s base camp and left everyone in awe of her epic journey.
While some folks her age might be content with knitting or sipping tea, Suzie was chasing heights at 5,363 meters above sea level.
Joined by two friends, a guide, and two porters, she embarked on an eight-day adventure in September, hiking six to seven hours a day and resting in small motels bundled up in three layers of clothing and a blanket with temperatures dropping below zero at night.
“It was a great adventure being there. Beyond that point, it was all snow right to the peak,” she told The Straits Times.
Once they reached the Everest base camp, Suzie became an instant celebrity. Everyone wanted a photo of her because she was the oldest hiker on the trail, after all.
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But this incredible journey was no spur-of-the-moment decision. Before setting her sights on Everest, she had already trekked Mount Kinabalu in May and conquered a G7 mountain in Cameron Highlands in Pahang, Malaysia.
“I wanted to prepare myself for the trip to Everest as it was the last item on my bucket list,” said Suzie, who took fitness seriously at 57, training in gyms and joining marathons.
While her two daughters are totally against her trying to reach Mount Everest’s peak, this grandma is gearing up for her next adventure—to hike up another mountain in Nepal next year.
