A DUBLIN WOMAN is on a mission to reach the summit of the highest volcano in each of the planet’s seven continents.

Milasha Joseph has already scaled the likes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in her bid to complete the feat.

It’s an ambition inspired by a desire during the pandemic lockdown of five years ago to improve her stamina and endurance.

“It was to break out of my comfort zone,” Milasha explained to The Journal. “I was thinking of trying to do something like skydiving or something adventurous, but at that point, I couldn’t do it because it was hard to travel outside the country.

“So I thought, I’ll train my body and do something like hiking. By 2021, I thought, okay, fine, I could do this. So why not seven volcanic summits?”

Those seven summits in full are:

• Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa
• Mount Damavand – Asia
• Mount Elbrus – Europe
• Pico De Orizaba – North America
• Ojos del Salado – South America
• Mount Giluwe – Oceania (which is considered a continent in some parts of the world and for the purpose of this mission)
• Mount Sidley – Antarctica

Malasha has ticked the first four off her list, with Mount Giluwe in Papua New Guinea next up later this month.

However, rain season and the risk of mudslides mean the mountain is safest to climb only during a brief window of just a few weeks in August and September.

The accountant, who lives in south Dublin, explained that it was a “deeply personal journey” for her as she is asthmatic, which she felt had previously inhibited her from similar experiences.

She adapted her training to include cardio and core work to strengthen her lungs for the 5,000 metre high summits.

Her mountaineering has also been inspired by a desire to have “other women with health conditions to believe in their strength” and to push themselves.

Milasha at the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa

The last summit on Milasha’s list is Mount Sidley in Antarctica, which is currently going to cost her more than €60,000 to manage. Before that trip she will aim to find a sponsor to help her raise the funds required.

Milasha, who hails from the southern Indian state of Kerala, said she has packed the Irish tricolour for the latest mountain in Papua New Guinea to mark a special occasion.

“I’ve lived in Ireland 11 years and I’m taking the Irish flag this time because I’m now an Irish citizen, since February. It’s been a journey and I’m looking forward to raising it.”