By Ramsey G. Tesdell and Mariam A. Adas
AMMAN – “You have to be prepared,” Mostafa Salameh said one recent evening in Amman as the sun set. Years of running, swimming, and mental and physical preparation to climb to the highest point on the Earth, not to mention a heart rate of 40 beats per minute, Salameh is prepared for just about any physical endurance test you can throw at him.
We decided to see how ready he was when we surprised him with an impromptu interview in one of Amman’s posh cafes. He didn’t fail to impress with a deluge of stories and opinions.
“I was very emotional when I reached the top,” he told 7iber.com. “My first thought was how beautiful it was and my second thought was how I’m going to get down.”
Salameh became the first Jordanian to reach the summit of Everest, and in the process has become an 
experienced climber. He has reached the summits of the tallest mountains on the seven continents, known as the Seven Summits, and has set his sights on the North and South Pole.
At the top of the world, he spoke with His Majesty King Abdallah II and his parents saying he made it to the top. Despite being his third attempt, scaling 28,000 feet of snow and ice – and the frozen remnants of those who didn’t make it to the top, their bodies left to nature – is nothing to scoff at.
Reaching the summit of Everest is no easy feat; but add to it that he smuggled a Tibetan flag through numerous Chinese checkpoints along the way. At the top, he flew the Tibetan flag with “Free Tibet” and “Free Palestine” written on it. For his courageous act, he is now banned from China.
Despite being the first Jordanian to summit Everest, he’s had trouble finding Jordanian support for his next adventure and he isn’t shy about letting his discontents known. After returning to Amman from the summit, there was no welcoming party waiting for him. There has been no meeting with the King or any country-level recognition.
Despite claims of not being appreciated however, magazines – including JO and VIVA – and newspaper in Jordan written about Salameh’s attempts to climb Everest. JO magazine put him on the cover twice.
His toe was severely frost-bitten and required a surgery in order not to lose it. After an offer from the Prime Minister didn’t come through, Salameh’s family had to sell land to afford the medical procedure. In the end, Prince Ali, who has supported Salameh from the beginning, covered the costs of the procedure.
In fact, Princess Reem, Princess Haya, and Prince Ali are some of the few who have supported the climber’s dream of the Seven Summits by offering financial and moral support.
“I do this because I’m concerned about the environment. I’ve contacted schools here to talk about my trip and incorporate environmental awareness,” Salameh said. “I believe in it – for the children of Jordan. We can change the mentality that we are destined to fail.”
“We can follow our dreams and succeed as Jordanians. Success is not only for the west,” Salameh insisted.
His motivation for climbing is part adventure-seeking and part spreading a better image of the Arab world.
“As a Muslim. As an Arab. As a Jordanian; we are not terrorists. I’ve met lots of people and share my experience as an Arab with them. This is jihadi. This is my jihad. An environmental jihad,” said Salameh.
Pictures courtesy of Mostafa Salameh.
