Prince of Peaks

In August 2002, less than 12 months after his Kilimanjaro-summit decision to take on the ‘Seven Summits’, Maxime Chaya climbed Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains (18,510 feet / 5,642 m). This accomplished athlete now felt confident about completing the challenge by planting the Lebanese flag atop each of the remaining five peaks. 5,642 m).
January 2003 saw him head to Aconcagua where, just 2,600 feet from the summit, unfavourable conditions forced the team to turn back.
Maxime wouldn’t get another chance; returning to Lebanon, he met with the sponsor he’d tried so long and hard to secure: a prestigious Lebanese banking group, ready to capitalize on the Seven Summits challenge’s assorted opportunities: especially those that could motivate and empower an entire generation to aim high and achieve grand ambitions.
When, later in 2003, Maxime headed to Denali in Alaska, the Lebanese flag would end up flying there at 20,321 feet!