T J Marce, 74, braves -20C cold and 65 kmph winds to climb Mt Elbrus
At the age of 74, T.J. Marce from Wayanad has etched his name in history by reaching the summit of Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, standing at 5,642 meters. His incredible achievement on August 15, 2026, under harsh conditions makes him the eldest Indian to conquer this formidable mountain. Marce, alongside M.P. Muraleedharan, previously scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, showcasing their inspiring…
T.J. Marce, a 74-year-old retiree from Wayanad, Kerala, successfully summited Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, on August 15, 2026. The challenging climb took place during an eight-day expedition led by a team of five members from Kerala. The team faced extreme temperatures of around -20°C and winds of up to 65 kmph during their journey.
The expedition members included S. Seshadri, M.P. Muraleedharan, G.J. Aghina Soorya, and P. Athif. Marce, Seshadri, and Muraleedharan are from Wayanad, while Soorya is from Kozhikode and Athif from Malappuram.
Marce, who is believed to be the oldest Indian to summit Mount Elbrus, undertook the climb after retirement. He, along with Muraleedharan, had previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2025, making them the first Wayanad residents to scale two of the Seven Summits – the highest mountains on each of the world's seven continents. Their expedition journey began at 60, after dipping their toes into trekking post-retirement.
Marce's interest in mountains started from a young age, with a fascination for trekking and sightseeing, and the thrill of reaching a summit. Despite the tough conditions, Marce remains undeterred and plans to climb more mountains in the future.
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