74-year-old man from Keralam’s Wayanad conquers Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe
T.J. Marce, a 74-year-old from Wayanad, India, successfully summited Mount Elbrus in Russia, becoming one of the oldest Indians to achieve this feat. This accomplishment marks his second of the Seven Summits, following his previous ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Why it matters
The story highlights the increasing trend of active aging and the physical capabilities of older adults in extreme sports.
For T.J. Marce, ageing has been less about slowing down and more about reaching new heights. The septuagenarian from Wayanad in Keralam has scaled two of the peaks in the Seven Summits in less than a year, adding a new dimension to life after retirement.
Mr. Marce recently summited Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, as part of a five-member team from Keralam.
He, along with S. Seshadri, M.P. Muraleedharan, G.J. Aghina Soorya, and P. Athif summited the 5,642-metre (18,510 ft) peak on August 15, 2026, India’s 80th Independence Day, following an eight-day expedition during which the team braved extreme weather conditions.
T.J. Marce during his Mount Elbrus expedition in August 2026. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in