Things to know before climbing Mount El'brus, Europe's highest mountain peak and one of the seven summits of the globe, can be scary. One of the advisories says that even those with the endurance to run a marathon could fail, and one should be comfortable ascending  914.4 meters of elevation on consecutive days carrying up to 11kg weight.

Temperatures hover around -8 degrees Celsius even during the summer, and the annual death rate of climbers is 30. Try telling these to Pathanamthitta native Seena Majnu, a lawyer, who climbed the peak on August 17, and her favourite memory among all the heart-pounding experiences would go like this. “The sunrise I saw there was the most memorable moment of my life,” she said.

What began as a local trek to Illikkalkallu in Kottayam eight years ago has now grown into an incredible journey for Seena Majnu. Seena always loved mountains, but she began exploring more seriously after her marriage. Her first treks were in Kerala, which later led her to different parts of India and Nepal. In 2024, she completed the Everest Base Camp trek and also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in October.

Next on her list was Mount El'brus in Russia. Her journey began with a flight from Mumbai to Mineralnye Vody Airport in Russia via Dubai. From there, she started the trek, covering 2,500 meters to reach the first camp. She spent a few days at base camp to get used to the high altitude. Her plan was to hoist the Indian flag on Independence Day, but bad weather delayed the climb. Instead, she proudly raised the flag at the base camp itself. On August 17, at midnight, Seena began her climb with her Georgian guide. By 6 am, they reached the peak of Elbrus. After spending half an hour at the top, she began her descent.

Climbing El'brus, which stands at 5,642 meters, Seena said, is a far cry from trekking. It demands rigorous physical and mental preparation. "You need proper preparation and routine before each trek. I got a wonderful trainer there who took care of me and understood my goals and needs. He taught me breathing techniques, climbing techniques, two hours daily," she said.

The climb was not easy. On the way down, Seena slipped and hit her head. "My guide was quite far away from me during this time. I was there, lying down for almost 25 minutes. I was scared, but luckily my guide came back to check on me," she recalled. By 9.30 am, she safely returned to base camp and immediately called her family to share the good news.

Her earlier climb to Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters), in October 2024, was also full of challenges. Seena was accompanied by a dedicated team of four – a cook, two porters, and a guide – ensuring her comfort and safety in the absence of proper amenities. "During the journey to Kilimanjaro, we had no access to proper accommodation, washroom facilities and such. These four people were there to make my journey comfortable. They cooked for me, safeguarded and set up tents for me," she said.

The six-day journey to the base camp involved navigating rainforests and then a challenging, rocky, mountainous terrain, reminiscent of how "monkeys climb." Through it all, Seena found strength in self-motivation, talking herself through the difficult stretches.

“We started climbing at 12 am and reached the top by 5.30 am. The sunrise there was the most beautiful I have ever seen,” she said, adding that she even wishes to return one day.

For Seena, the call of one mountain inevitably leads to another. Her next adventures are already lined up, conquer either Mount Kosciuszko in Australia or Mount Aconcagua in Argentina in January 2026, depending on which visa comes through first.

Seena works as an advocate and helps run National College, Thiruvalla, a private institution with her husband. They have two daughters—Dana Liz Majnu, who is in Class 12, and Thanu Sarah Majnu, who is in Class 9.