Hyderabad Doctor completes seven summits challenge

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

City-based mountaineer and orthopedic surgeon Rajashekhar has successfully summited Mt Denali, North America's highest peak, completing the prestigious Seven Summits challenge—climbing the highest mountain on each continent. With this achievement, he is said to be the first doctor from the southern states to accomplish the feat.

Rajashekhar reached the summit of Mt Denali at approximately 8:30 AM IST on June 18.

"Summit was successfully done without any issue. Little winds and cold temperature otherwise everything is good. No injuries, whole team is doing well," he said in a message shared with family and friends. Rajashekhar received guidance and support from Bharath Thammineni, founder of Boots and Crampon, an Indian company organising expeditions and treks all over the world.

A specialist in hip and knee surgery and a robotic surgeon, his life took an unexpected turn during the Covid-19 pandemic when he contracted the virus and was hospitalised.

The recovery was difficult and lingering fatigue and a loss of motivation forced him to step away from his profession for nearly a year.

Determined to rebuild his health, he set himself an ambitious goal, choosing mountaineering, a sport that demands endurance, physical fitness and mental resilience, and began training systematically, the Boots and Crampon said in a release on Friday.

His Seven Summits journey started with a successful ascent of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on January 26, 2022. He followed that with a summit of Mt Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain, in August 2022.

After suffering multiple injuries, Rajashekhar took a year-long break before returning to the mountains. He climbed Mt Kosciuszko in Australia in August 2023 and reached the summit of Mt Aconcagua, South America's highest peak, on February 4, 2024.

Just months later, he achieved his most significant mountaineering milestone by summiting Mt Everest on May 23, 2024.

His first attempt on Mt Denali in Alaska came in June 2025. Severe weather conditions prevented the summit push, and he suffered frostbite during the descent.

The setback, however, made him determined to realize the goal. Later, he successfully climbed Mt Vinson, Antarctica's highest peak, alongside a fellow climber.

"Standing on Mt Denali after everything I’ve been through is an incredibly emotional moment. This journey tested me physically and mentally, but it also reminded me of the power of resilience and purpose. Completing the Seven Summits is not just a personal milestone, but a message that recovery and determination can take you to the highest places on Earth," Rajashekhar said.