The inaugural visit of Antonio Pérez, widely known as ‘Anto’, to Nepal occurred in 2015, merely ten years ago, and he was absolutely enchanted. His trip coincided with one of the most catastrophic earthquakes the nation has ever experienced, resulting in approximately 9,000 deaths, nearly 22,000 injuries, and extensive material destruction.
At that period, Nepal was desolate, with tourism nearly non-existent due to the earthquake aftermath. The few travellers, like Antonio, were warmly welcomed by locals, as much of their livelihood depends on mountain tourism.
It was also his first encounter with the Himalayan mountain range, where he unexpectedly encountered Pumori. Although he merely reached the base during that visit and did not ascend, he had a strong intuition that he would one day conquer it. A decade later, the conditions are now right for him to do so, and next week, ‘Anto’ will embark on a dual challenge: to summit Pumori and deliver educational supplies to the school in the village of Thame, situated in the Rolwaling Valley, a region marked by extreme poverty and largely off the beaten path.
Pumori rises to an altitude of 7,165 metres in the Everest region, nestled at the border between Tibet (China) and Nepal. Some experts claim that alongside Ama Dablam, they are the two most stunning peaks in the entire Himalayas. Its name derives from the Sherpa language, a Tibetan dialect, and translates to “daughter of the mountain”; mountaineers frequently refer to it as “daughter of Everest.” Its distinctive shape makes it an iconic mountain, regarded as one of the area’s most beautiful due to its nearly perfect pyramidal form, as Antonio explains. However, “it presents technical challenges as the slopes are steep, with inclines reaching 60 degrees which complicate the ascent, and there is a significant avalanche risk that is impossible to predict. There have been Spaniards who tragically lost their lives attempting to summit due to this inherent danger, which exists on any mountain,” he clarifies.
As with previous journeys, this trip is extensive, and this time there is a slight complication. He will first arrive in Doha, Qatar, where he will collect the educational supplies he has gathered, then board a local flight to Lukla, an “iconic” airport in the Himalayas notorious for its perilous conditions; being both very small and situated amid mountains. The runway is sloped to aid landings and take-offs, and there’s a drop at the start and a cliff at the end of the runway.
Following this, he will undertake a seven-day trek towards the mountain, gradually ascending to acclimatise. He’ll detour through Pachermo to climb a peak of about 6,000 metres to reach the Rolwaling Valley, where he intends to deliver the 25 kilos of educational materials he managed to gather — just by raising awareness in La Orotava.
This specific weight is no coincidence; it corresponds to what a porter usually carries in Nepal. Antonio consistently aims to ensure that his adventures, besides being physically demanding, also have a philanthropic angle. “There are many deficiencies in the country, such as solar panels and hygiene products. For me, education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world, as Nelson Mandela stated. If every child can get an education, it will empower them,” he remarks.
He had discussions with three local stationery shops in La Orotava: Education, Tejar, and Gonzalina. He encouraged patrons to purchase any type of material, with each shop contributing roughly 8 kilos. He aimed to support local businesses since a similar initiative last year was successful, though many opted to shop at larger retailers or stores outside the municipality.
In this context, Antonio wishes to express his gratitude to the Brotherhood of Calvary and to Mercedes, a family member who covered all transportation and customs expenses. This entire endeavour will help him acclimatise and return to the main route for the Pumori ascent. There, he will establish base camp and await suitable weather to begin his climb to the summit.
“I cannot guarantee success, but I believe no one from the Canary Islands has accomplished this yet,” remarks ‘Anto’.
This enthusiast of mountaineering has a profound passion for the mountains. He has explored the Alps four times, seeking peaks over 4,000 metres across Italy, France, and Switzerland. In South America, he visited Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Argentina, ascending as high as 6,000 metres, conquering Sajama and Illimani, the highest mountains in Bolivia standing at 6,542 and 6,438 metres, respectively. Yet, he craved even higher peaks, leading him to Africa’s Kilimanjaro, and then to the Atlas mountain range in Morocco, as well as Ethiopia. His journey as a mountaineer has also taken him to Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, India, Iran, and China, where he ascended Muztagh-Ata in the Kunlun mountain range, peaking at 7,546 metres.
Nepal enchants him with its majesty. “The vistas are endless in the Himalayas; there are no limits. It’s breathtaking, unlike anything you see in other mountain ranges, even though they all possess their own beauty,” confesses ‘Anto’ passionately just days before embarking on this new adventure.
The philatelic group Las Pintaderas designs a commemorative postcard
The philatelic group Las Pintaderas has crafted a commemorative postcard that Antonio will take to Nepal, intending to mark the effort and solidarity of his adventure. The goal is to affix stamps from Kathmandu and send them to the philatelic group and other recipients yet to be determined.
The front of the postcard features an image of Pumori alongside a quote from Nelson Mandela, while the reverse side details the characteristics of this mountain and Antonio’s solidarity challenge.
This is the second occasion on which Las Pintaderas has supported such a venture. Last year they did so with the ‘Round and Round Mountains’ project, during which mountaineer Fefi Hernández ascended Pisang Peak, towering at 6,091 metres, and from the summit, with the mental health flag, advocated for the recognition of mental health’s importance in society.
