Safrina Latheef, a mother, entrepreneur and now Everest summiteer, opens up about her unforgettable journey to the top of the world. In an exclusive conversation with Timeline, she recounts the physical and emotional extremes of standing on the roof of the planet, while also confronting the quiet battles that many women silently endure.
“I submitted Everest during my periods — and I’m someone who usually skips the gym when I have one,” she laughs, with a mix of humility and defiance. “But I did a 13-hour trek with no problem. We women are superhumans. We don’t know it yet.”
The idea to climb Everest first took root in December 2021. “I told myself I’d need at least two to three years of training,” she says. “Everest is not a goal you wake up and chase overnight. It demands everything from you: your body, your mind, your time, and your finances.”
After intense physical training and meticulous research, she finally booked her 2025 expedition with Elite Exped, a highly reputable Nepal-based outfitter. “They only take 10 to 15 clients per trip. Their motto is ‘No man left behind,’ and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Safrina notes. “Their guides are IFMGA-certified, internationally trained. With your life on the line, you want the best in the business.”
For Safrina, the Khumbu Icefall was one of the toughest phases. “It’s technically demanding and physically exhausting,” she says. “You’re constantly battling gravity, unstable ice towers, and your mind.”
But nothing quite prepared her for what happened on the final summit push. “I got my period — completely unexpectedly. None of the women had sanitary napkins. I just had to go on. I climbed Everest during my period, with nothing.”
Her voice quivers, but not out of fragility. “When I came back, I thought — if I can do this, there is no excuse left. Not for me, not for my daughter. I want her to know: nothing is impossible.”
The summit night brought more than just physical challenges. It brought a haunting confrontation with mortality.
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“I had seen countless videos of dead bodies on Everest. I thought I’d be desensitised. But when you see a climber — just like you—lying there forever, it shakes you to your soul,” she says, her tone solemn. “They had the same dreams, the same hopes. They wanted to go home. But there they are — etched in ice, forever.”
A Message From the Top of the World
After 14 relentless hours of climbing and witnessing people turn back due to exhaustion and depleted oxygen, Safrina finally stood on the summit. “I had tears in my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I had achieved. I immediately recorded a message for my daughter: ‘This is for you. From the top of the world. I love you. And nothing is impossible.’”
But the mission wasn’t over. “Most accidents happen on the descent,” she says. “You’re exhausted, euphoric, and vulnerable. All I could think was: get back safe.”
Safrina is vocal about breaking myths around women’s physical strength. “When we reached camp, many men were lying down, hyperventilating. The women in our team? They were walking around, shooting dance reels,” she smiles. “We are stronger than the world gives us credit for. Stronger than even we give ourselves credit for,” she said.
