Bouchra Baibanou: First Moroccan to Complete the 7 Summits
Preparing for Departure
Bouchra Baibanou at her home in Rabat. She is pictured here with her gear she will be taking to Mt. Vinson, the last of the 7 Summits she has to climb.
BouchraBaibanouportraitmountaineerclimberalpinistexpedition7 SummitsMoroccoWomen RisingMt. EverestRabat
All About The Hands
I particularly wanted to capture the relationship between her hands and her gear. Hands are crucial for an expedition mountaineer. Bouchra needed to efficiently work the jumars, handle the ropes, and operate her ice axe. She suffered bad frostbite on Mt. Everest and was nervous about her hands for Mt. Vinson.
BouchraBaibanouportraitmountaineerclimberalpinistexpedition7 SummitsMoroccoWomen RisingMt. EverestRabat
Checking Gear
Bouchra checked all her gear thoroughly, making sure it was in good working order for climbing Mt. Vinson, Antarctica.
BouchraBaibanouportraitmountaineerclimberalpinistexpedition7 SummitsMoroccoWomen RisingMt. EverestRabat
It's All About The Jumars
Bouchra examines her jumar to make sure it's in good working order. Jumars are a key piece of climbing gear for high-altitude mountaineers. They are ascenders designed to help climbers ascended fixed ropes. They stay attached to the rope and have a built in breaking system.
BouchraBaibanouportraitmountaineerclimberalpinistexpedition7 SummitsMoroccoWomen RisingMt. EverestRabat
From Everest to Vinson
With the completion of Mt. Vinson in December 2018, Bouchra became the first Moroccan to complete the 7 Summits – breaking gender barriers in Morocco and around the world. Only 14% of mountaineers who complete the 7 Summits are women. Bouchra was using mountaineering to push for greater gender equality by challenging concepts on what women can do and accomplish. Bouchra’s story shares a different narrative on both Moroccan women. Moroccan women have diverse stories and they are even adventure athletes pushing the barriers of their field.
BouchraBaibanouportraitmountaineerclimberalpinistexpedition7 SummitsMoroccoWomen RisingMt. EverestRabat
Home in Rabat
Born and raised in Rabat, Bouchra first began mountaineering when she climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with her husband. From then she set a goal to work through the tallest summits on each continent called the 7 Summits.
BouchraBaibanouportraitmountaineerclimberalpinistexpedition7 SummitsMoroccoWomen RisingMt. EverestRabat
Bouchra Baibanou Prepares for Her Last Climb - Mt. Vinson
From the ancient medinas of Morocco to the towering peaks of the 7 Summits – Bouchra Baibanou has made history and shattered gender barriers to become the first Moroccan to complete the 7 Summits. On December 16, 2018, she battled frostbite and the Antarctica winds to summit Mt. Vinson and complete the 7 Summits. A software engineer from Rabat, Bouchra first fell in love with mountaineering while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. After 8 years of pushing through boundaries, she completed the last of the 7 Summits. Beyond breaking the glass ceiling of mountaineering in Morocco, Bouchra also empowers women through her workshops, bootcamps and public speaking. She is pushing for greater gender equality and helping women believe in themselves, reach goals, and get outside hiking and climbing.