Zed Al Refai (Zeddy)

Infobox Celebrity
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caption = Zed Al Refai
birth_date = Birth date and age|1966|10|28|mf=y
birth_place = Kuwait
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Businessman
salary =
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website = [http://www.foreverest.com]

Zed Al Refai (born October 28 1966) is a Kuwaiti climber and the First Arab to climb Mount Everest. He made history in being the 46th person to climb all seven highest summits in the seven continents of the world.

Biography

Zeddy had a quiet childhood all the way through to high school. Some time was spent in Finland prior heading to the USA to enroll for university; he says "that is when the passion was ignited in me". Recalls the time he spent in Scandinavia.

His higher education took him to Florida, New Jersey & Pennsylvania. His holidays were always seized as an opportunity to go trekking in places such as New England, the Rockies, and North Pacific of the United States.

Moving to Switzerland, with its climbing history and rugged Alps, in 1992 kicked his climbing career into high gear. He traveled to Nepal in the mid 90's where he was captivated by Mt. Everest and the Himalayas. After extensive training in the Scottish highlands, the Chamonix valley and treks in South America Zed became the first Arab to summit Mt. McKinley (the highest peak in North America). It was the first in a long string of first climbs for an Arab. Zed went on to climb Elbrus (Europe); Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania); Everest (Asia) , Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mont Blanc (Alps), Vinson Massif (Antarctica) reaching the summit on 1/13/2004, and Aconcagua (South America) on 2/5/2004 completing the Seven Summits.In the mid 90's Zeddy traveled to Nepal, during this visit he was captured by the Himalayas and the Magnificent EVEREST. It was a long shot, but he was determined to give it his best. Then he builds up for the new adventure, with serious hiking and ice climbing in the Scottish highlands, the Chamonix Valley and treks in Latin America. His break came when he had the chance to climb & summit Mt. McKinley in Alaska (highest in N America) and attained the honor of being the First Arab to do so. He realized the sport of climbing was not yet exploited by fellow Arabs; that was the start of a long list of GROUND BREAKING RECORDS including the highest mountains in the following continents; Denali (N. America); Elbrus (Europe); Carstenz Pyramid (Oceania); EVEREST (Asia). Zeddy is not sure if he was the first Arab on Kilimanjaro (Africa) or Mont Blanc (Alps), however he is still very satisfied and proud of his achievements.He was once asked if he was only after records, he replied "well I couldn't stop any one from climbing if they wanted to. Moreover, I don't issue permits to Everest". Failure came (in the form of acute mountain sickness) with his first attempt on Everest, it was sponsored by the Kuwaiti telecom giant MTC, Zeddy commented "It hit me so hard, I was very disappointed, never got the chance to pass the awareness about our POWs & MIAs during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. It was a close shave, near death experience, it made me think hard about climbing, but I wouldn't give in easily.” It seems it was a case of second time lucky. As he says," my dream was accomplished, I never planned to be the FIRST ARAB to summit Everest, but I guess I was destined to be, I was hungry for it, I exceeded my own limit, surpassed my own expectations and stretched my body beyond belief. Great deeds come at a great cost." Zeddy is a successful coffee merchant, who resides between Geneva (Switzerland) and Dubai (UAE), with frequent visits to his home country of Kuwait.

One of the things that fascinate us about Everest is who accomplishes things first, who they are and where they're from. Who was first up the mountain? That'd be Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay (or maybe George Mallory and Sandy Irvine - you never know). Who was the first American? That'd be Jim Whittaker.

Mountain climbing, a relatively unknown sport in the Arab world, has picked up ace with Zed's expedition to climb Cho Oyu Mountain, in Tibet, China. Zed has broken new grounds by introducing and promoting mountain climbing in the Middle East. Over the years, he has attained ceaseless achievements; making history in being the 46th person to climbs all 7 highest summits in the 7 continents.

I nearly died on the Everest in 2001. I suffered from the last stages of cerebral edema (excessive fluid in the brain). It hit me at advance base camp at 6,500m. All doctors present said I had 20 percent chance of living. I slipped in and out of coma, not knowing what was happening. Sherpa’s carried me down; I remember very little. I recovered slowly in a Kathmandu hospital and then went back immediately to ask for a visa to climb the mountain again.

Paving the way for many of the Arab youth to follow, Zed has founded the Arabian Mountaineering & Alpine Climbing Club in an attempt to educate people in the Middle East on mountain climbing and spread this budding sport in the region.

Zed Al Refai plans to speak about mountaineering at schools and universities in the region. Arabian Mountaineering & Alpine climbing club will be in full operation shortly; where climbers can meet, discuss climbing, share their experiences, support each other and also back causes. Climbers need each other as experience guides have made my climbs possible. I particularly want to thank Russell Brice who went with me to Everest and Matterhorn and Vernon Tejas who went with me to Denali and Vinson.According to Zed “I’m a naturalist and environmentalist. I want to highlight the importance of protecting the environment in the Arab world in general and the Gulf region in particular”

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." Helen Keller

Humanitarian Expedition

Besides, the climbing; Zed has embarked to Pakistan on a humanitarian expedition to supply all those in need with tents and blankets as well as much needed material in order to ease their sufferings. The 2,500 residents of the Kahori village, situated north of Muzaffarabad and east of Balakot, got a brand new school, water tanks and shelters to replace the otherwise destructed infrastructure in that village. Thanks to the effort of Zed Al Refai who has pledged support to rebuilding girls school destructed in earthquake. The support also includes building teachers’ accommodation and water tanks to the 2500 village residents.

The 7 Summits

* 1999: Denali
* 2000: Carstensz Pyramid
* 2000: Elbrus
* 2001: Kilimanjaro
* 2003: Everest
* 2004: Vinson Massif
* 2004: Aconcagua
* 2005: Mount Kosciuszko

+8000m Summits

* 2003: Everest
* 2005: Cho Oyu

External links

* [http://www.foreverest.com Zed's homepage]
* [http://www.kclimb.com Zed's Climbing Center in Kuwait]
* [http://www.amac.ae Zed's Mountaineering Club]