25-05-2025
63 and still climbing, retired engineer defies limits
Ravichandran Manikam says climbing Island Peak, his first summit above 6,000 metres, was shocking. (Ravichandran Manikam pic)
PENANG : Penang boy Ravichandran Manikam Achari is not one to mess with. Every Saturday, he clocks in an eight-kilometre trail run. On Sundays? He's cycling 56km. Weekdays are for gym sessions.
And when it comes to mountains, Ravi's tackled more than six major climbs over the past decade – including Nepal's towering Himlung Himal, which stands at a whopping 7,126 metres. Oh, and has it been mentioned that he's 63 years old?
'Compared to 2015, I'm four times fitter, stronger, and healthier now,' he told FMT Lifestyle with a smile. 'These climbs have made me a totally different man. I can do better things now!'
Based in Gelugor, the retired engineer only considered mountaineering in 2015, when a friend suggested the activity as a way to blow off steam from his high-stress job. So, Ravi gave it a go.
His first climb was along the Mustang trail in Lo Manthang, Tibet, which sits at 3,840 metres. And just like that, he was hooked.
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Despite reaching the top of Himlung Himal, Ravi (right) suffered food poisoning due to dirty drinking water. (Ravichandran Manikam pic)
'It was really stressful. I went for that climb with zero training,' he admitted. 'But I fell in love with it immediately after.'
Since then, Ravi has taken on Gokyo, Everest Base Camp (which he has climbed three times), The Three Passes (Renjo Lo, Cho La, and Gokyo Ri), Island Peak, and finally, Himlung Himal.
Each climb, he said, gave him more than just breathtaking views – it gave him confidence.
'I started to believe in myself,' he said. And that belief has taken him further than he ever imagined. Besides leading a fairly active life, Ravi also ensures his diet is healthy, balanced, and most importantly, home-cooked.
'I only abuse myself during the weekends, where I just go and have some good food which I enjoy, and have some wine or champagne,' he quipped.
The climbs are not without danger. During his expedition to Himlung Himal, Ravi battled food poisoning, sub-zero temperatures, and unclean water.
'I was not aware of this at all. Unlike Everest Base Camp where there are rest houses and clean water, here it's totally different,' Ravi recalled.
Ravi has climbed the Everest Base Camp three times, getting faster each time. (Ravichandran Manikam pic)
And yet, the experience left him deeply moved. 'The people in Nepal are amazing. Sherpas are incredibly disciplined and kind. They have very little, but they share whatever they have. This is the beauty of their culture.'
Despite telling himself each time that it would be the last, Ravi always finds himself browsing the internet for the next mountain to climb.
'It's an addiction,' he laughed. 'You tell yourself at night, when you're freezing in a -20°C sleeping bag, with a pee bottle inside the tent and nothing but wind outside – you say never again. But the moment you're back home, the itch begins.'
Perhaps what Ravi has gained most is perspective.
'When you're climbing dangerous terrain, you realise very quickly that your money, your company, even the people you love – you might never see them again. Everything you think matters… suddenly doesn't,' he said.
'But after surviving dangerous terrain, after coming back alive and strong … problems at work or in your personal life become manageable.'
Without fail, Ravi cycles for nearly 56km every Sunday. (Ravichandran Manikam pic)
For those in their 50s, 60s, and beyond who think they're too old to start something new, Ravi offered this piece of advice: 'It's never too late. I wasn't a risk taker. I used to work 18- to 20-hour days. But now, I'm healthier than ever.
'The most important thing is to start with your health. Exercise. Eat right. Discipline yourself. Transformation happens through consistency.'
Speaking of discipline, he chuckled at the thought of nasi kandar and sugary drinks. 'When you've run a trail for over an hour, sweating it out, why throw it all away with a carbonated drink? It's not worth it. You defeat the purpose. Only when you continuously tend to be disciplined, does transformation happen.'
Indeed, Ravi shows no signs of slowing down. 'Every summit feels like a celebration. After all the suffering and pain, you get this rush of happiness. That's the best present for yourself. All the tiredness will disappear.'
So while he might claim to be done for now, don't be surprised if you see his name again – somewhere above 6,000 metres, chasing another summit, another story, another breathless view.
