The Team
Robert Gatt
A graduate in business management, Robert is a 38 year old business systems consultant based in London.
He started rock climbing on the Maltese crags 20 years ago when coloured lycra tights were fashionable and rock climbing gear was heavy. He ticked a number of trad first ascents and he has yet to drill and fix his first bolt. Robert is an avid traveller, trekker and all round climber.
The first rock climbing trip to Chamonix in 1992 sparked the initial appetite for alpine and mixed climbing. From then on, it was winter trips to Cairngorms and Nevis ranges in Scotland and getting to grips with Peak grit stone. His travels have taken him rock climbing to Krabi in Thailand, Joshua Tree in the US and Mt Arapiles and Blue Mountains in Australia, volcano bagging in Indonesia and alpine climbing in the European Alps. Robert has also trekked and climbed in Sikkim, Garhwal, Lahaul and Spiti in India; the Karakorum mountains in Pakistan and Annapurna sanctuary in Nepal. Robert moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1997 and spent time climbing on the big granite walls of Squamish and trekking in the Coast mountains.
Robert went back to Nepal in 2007, climbing Mera Peak (6476m) and on to Island Peak (6189m) crossing the technical Amphu Lapcha La (5780m). In 2008, Robert climbed Mt Kinabalu (4096m) in the Malaysian Borneo and attempted Elbrus (5642m) in the Caucasus, Russia – the highest peak in Europe, turning back 200m from the summit due to bad weather and severe freezing conditions.
Robert says he climbs because “every single climb is an experience worth treasuring. And when the mountain allows you to gain its summit, the personal reward is unsurpassed. An 8000m mountain will test one’s limits to the full. High altitude climbing is about going through barriers you have never thought possible – physical but more importantly mental. You approach these mountains with humility, accept what they throw at you and make sure you live to go climbing again."
Greg Attard
Greg is a 32-year-old Maltese Medical Doctor specializing in Accident and Emergency situations.
His love for the outdoors and adventure has taken him across 4 continents. From the blistering cold and rarefied air of 7000 meter peaks of the Himalayas and the Andes to the muddy trails of the rain forests of south east Asia and Borneo, from the desolate plains of the Tibetan plateau to the windswept jagged skyline of the FizRoy range in Patagonia.
Among his high altitude peaks there are Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895m, Tanzania), Mera Peak (6476m, Nepal), Balmhorn (3698m, Switzerland) and neighboring peaks (Rinderhorn, Altels etc), Cerro Aconcagua (6962m, Argentina) the highest mountain in the Andes and the highest peak outside Asia, Ojos del Salado (6891m, Chileand Jbel Toubkal (4167m, Morocco).
Greg says that he keeps climbing because, “There is something about mountains which fills me with respect and admiration. There is nothing more awe inspiring than a snow-capped peak and the challenge it presents. My love for the outdoors and travel, the ever present urge to push myself to the limit and then a step beyond contributed to my decision to join this venture. However there is a very fine line between determination and hard-headedness. Crossing that line on an 8000 meter peak will cost you limb or life.”
As a medic with pre-hospital and emergency experience Greg’s expertise will undoubtedly prove useful during the challenge8000 expeditions.
Over the past year Greg invested considerable time and effort broadening his knowledge in the emerging field of “wilderness medicine” in particular the high altitude aspects of this evolving and developing science.
Marco Cremona
Marco is a 40-year-old mechanical engineer, an environmental consultant and a regular contributor to opinion columns in the local media.
His climbing experience started with a successful expedition to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (2005). As his climbing ambitions increased, Marco climbed Mera Peak (2006) in the Himalayas and Cerro Aconcagua in the Andes. With the 6,962m high Aconcagua climbed in January 2008, Marco (and challenge8000 team member Greg Attard) holds the national elevation record. More recently Marco also climbed Jbel Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains.
Commenting on his mountaineering and altitude obsession, Marco says, “There is something about climbing mountains that no other physical or mental achievement brings. I'm not sure if it's the view from the top, the danger or the sheer fact that most people would choose not to do it, even if someone were to pay them. In the end I want to climb Everest because it's the world's highest mountain and it represents the ultimate personal challenge. I want to do exceptional things and above all I relish the mammoth challenge of making these expeditions a reality. And, of course I want to see the Maltese flag flap on top of the world and make history."
In his professional life, Marco is a water specialist and is recognized as the leading water expert in Malta. Some of his projects have received international acclaim and have featured on foreign TV stations including Al Jazeera and SIC (Portugal). Marco has also lent his expertise as an overseas volunteer in Kenya, Ecuador and post-Tsunami Sri Lanka. In August 2008, Marco was short-listed as one of 30 finalists worldwide for the Junior Chamber International (JCI) 2008 Outstanding Young Person of the World award.
Victor Saunders - Expedition Guide
Victor is a world-renowned British mountaineer and a qualified UIAGM mountain guide. He is also a member of the SNGM. (National Syndicate of French Mountain Guides) Victor is based in the alpine town of Chamonix, France which is home to Mt Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe and countless other spectacular alps. He spends a large part of the year climbing and guiding in the world's most beautiful mountain ranges and has climbed on all the world's continents including Antartica and South America.
Victor has summitted Mt Everest 4 times in the past 5 years and has also been on Cho Oyu 4 times. Besides several first climbing ascents, Victor Saunders has written several books about mountains. Elusive Summits won the Boardman Tasker prize in 1991 and No Place to Fall was shortlisted in 1994.
For information on guiding services offered by Victor, please visit: www.basecamp.co.uk . He comes highly recommended by the Challenge8000 team!
