Climbing Beyond Limits
Mountains speak softly, but their lessons echo loudly. At 53, Sheila Michael has climbed Mount Kinabalu five times and stood at Annapurna Base Camp, proving that courage, determination and joy can carry you higher than you ever imagined.
Answering the call of the mountains
Mountains have a way of calling to us — not with loud voices, but with quiet invitations: the rustle of leaves, the glint of snow, the pull of a path we have never taken.
For some, the call comes early in life. For others, like 53-year-old Sheila Michael, it arrives unexpectedly, opening doors to courage and self-belief she never knew she possessed.
This Bau-born woman didn’t discover the outdoors late in life — the love had always been there.
Back in the 1980s, during her school days, she enjoyed being active and spending time in nature. But as adulthood settled in, work and family naturally took centre stage, and that early interest slipped quietly aside.
It wasn’t until her mid-40s that the spark resurfaced. Her first attempt at Mount Kinabalu reignited something she thought she had left behind: the desire to return stronger, healthier and better prepared for whatever summit came next.
It’s the kind of spirit International Mountain Day celebrates — ordinary people taking brave first steps — and Sheila embodies that spirit through her steady determination and humility.
The first step that changed everything
Her renewed journey truly began in 2018, when she signed up for her first-ever climb: Mount Kinabalu.
She wasn’t a complete stranger to the outdoors, but tackling a major mountain like Kinabalu was a very different challenge.
To make things harder, the night before the ascent she fell ill with stomach pain, repeatedly rushing to the toilet. By morning, she was already exhausted. She pushed as far as she could, but didn’t make it to Low’s Peak.
Yet instead of disappointment, Sheila remembers joy.
“I was still happy with my achievement. It was my first climb, and I proved to myself that I could do it,” the Bidayuh climber said as we began our conversation.
That first attempt taught her a lifelong lesson: if you believe in yourself and give your best, you will succeed. One setback does not define you.
More importantly, that climb planted a seed. From that day, Sheila was no longer just a woman who once tried hiking — she was a climber.
The summit that shaped her
After tackling Kinabalu, Sheila felt a new hunger for adventure — a wish to test herself against mountains beyond her home country.
Among all the peaks she has climbed — Rinjani, Bromo and Sibayak in Indonesia, Fansipan in Vietnam, and Kinabalu at home — nothing compares to the majesty of Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal.
Before committing, she researched the trek, altitude and terrain. Once confident that it was manageable for a fit beginner, she booked the climb. She chose autumn, when the forests glow gold and the Himalayan skies are at their clearest.
For six days, she climbed without any health issues — something she considers one of her greatest personal victories. But the moment that stays with her most is reaching base camp in the freezing wind, watching snow fall on the night of her arrival.
“It increased my confidence that nothing in this life is impossible,” she said.
Perhaps most magical of all: she celebrated her birthday on 27 October at Annapurna, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and breathtaking panoramas.
From sweeping 360-degree views of icy summits to blue-white rivers, sparkling waterfalls and glowing sunrises, she describes the experience simply: “It is truly magical — you must come and see it yourself.”
Even small comforts on the trail made a difference. She carried isotonic drinks and energy bars, which she says felt almost magical in helping her push through long stretches.
Mountains that keep calling her back
For Sheila, mountains are more than physical places — they are companions with character, each offering lessons, challenges and memories.
She laughs when asked whether any mountain feels like a “drama queen.”
“All my friends are okay — no drama queen!” she joked.
But Mount Kinabalu holds a special place in her heart. She has returned five times, drawn by something she finds hard to put into words.
“The awe and satisfaction you feel at the top is hard to explain. Kinabalu has its own aura. Once you climb it, you’ll want to come back,” she said.
Each return felt like reconnecting with an old friend, each climb teaching her something new about herself.
Along the way came amusing, very human moments. On one via ferrata climb, a friend urgently needed to answer “nature’s call.” He scrambled to find a safe spot among the rocks while the rest pretended not to notice, clinging to a metal ladder until he finished. These moments stitch friendships together, making climbs unforgettable beyond the physical achievement.
Through every climb, Sheila maintains a personal ritual: a quiet prayer, her rosary, and holy water tucked safely into her bag.
She also lives by one simple, daily principle: caring for her body.
“Stay active — exercise, hike, and look after your diet. That’s how I keep healthy and feeling young,” she said with a smile.
Don’t stress — enjoy the view
At 53, Sheila has seen enough mountains to know that the journey matters far more than the pace.
If a beginner hiker asked for her simplest, most reassuring advice, she would say: “Just enjoy the journey. Focus on the experience, not the speed. Hiking is not a race. Start simple, be prepared, and enjoy nature.”
For her, the true magic of hiking is not only in reaching a summit, but in the cold air against your skin, the crunch of gravel under your shoes, the quiet companionship of friends, and the moment you realise your body — and your heart — can carry you farther than you ever imagined.
From a woman who once doubted her own strength to someone who has walked through snow at Annapurna and stood five times at the crown of Kinabalu, Sheila’s story is a reminder on International Mountain Day that courage has no age limit.
She proves that the biggest climb is often the first step — and that sometimes, the most breathtaking views aren’t on the mountain at all, but within yourself.
