Croatian Sisters Conquer Mount Everest

Last night was the hardest. We could not contact the base, there was a storm nearby, says the mother of the Bostjancic sisters.

“I hope that they did not go and see some other high peak” were the words of the concerned, but still happy and proud Djurdja Bostjancic, the mother of the Croatian women’s expedition including Darija and Iris Bostjancic. The sisters opened the Croatian flag on Mount Everest at 6am Croatian time.

Darija, Iris and another nine girls headed on the expedition towards the peak of Mount Everest in March this year, headed by the experienced leader of the expedition Darko Berljak. On their way to the peak, they avoided a tragedy a number of times, when they were nearly hit by an avalanche. However, their perseverance to conquer the terrain and reach the peak was stronger than anything.

A number of challenges lie ahead

“What we experienced cannot be said in two or three words. We trusted in them and their intelligence that they will know when to stop. This was the only thing keeping us together. It was terrible when that avalanche was very close to them, and last night it was very intense as well” said the mother of the first sisters in history to conquer Mount Everest.

However, she revealed that there are still a number of challenges before they descend from the massive mountain. In two days time a second group from the Croatian expedition should ascend to the summit. Besides that, Darija and Iris still have to get past a very demanding part of the mountain before they return to base – an ice waterfall.

However, nobody doubts the capability of the sisters from Rijeka, and a happy ending to the historical Croatian story.

“I never doubted their success. The girls have an experienced expedition leader, and I am very proud of them, especially Darija. Those two avalanches were really close, it was very intense, but it passed” said Elvir Sulic, the boyfriend of Darija Bostjancic who is an alpinist himself, and a member of Rijeka’s club AD Natura.

When asked what conquering Mount Everest means to alpinists, Elvir said:

“For some it is only one in a series, and to some it is fulfilling a life dream.

Expedition should return

Lets hope, for the sake of their mother, that this is the fulfilment of a life dream for Darija, and not only another in a series of peaks that need to be conquered.

If everything goes to plan, the Croatian expedition is scheduled to arrive at Zagreb’s Pleso Airport on June 3.

Two Croatians Climb to Top of Mt. Everest