Prince Bandar Bin Khalid has become the first Saudi to reach the top of Aconcagua mountain in Argentina. Aconcagua at 6,959 m is the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere and second highest in the world. However, this is not Prince Bandar's first challenge. Known to be a man with a passion for adventure, he has set a number of records over the years. Aconcagua is not an easy mountain to climb as the weather is intensely cold and its rocks are unsettling, Prince Bandar said, adding “it was not easy at all as it took months of training and preparation”. Prince Bandar loves climbing and has set a number of records since 2008 when he became the first Saudi to climb the highest point in Africa Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Europe Mount Elbrus and the highest point in North America Mount McKinley (Denali). Prince Bandar is a Harvard graduate who also has an MA in Law and Diplomacy and is the co-founder and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Thought Foundation, which promotes better understanding between Arabs and the Western world. He is also a member of the General Assembly of the King Faisal Foundation, an internationally active charitable foundation which supports research, education and social welfare. However, he not only sets records, he also wants to promote healthy activities and hopes to be able to encourage more Saudis to pursue mountain climbing. He said: “I'm happy to be listed among the people who have climbed these mountains, but I am also happy that I am setting an example for our society and encouraging Saudis to be more active”. __
