Maltese mountain climber Rita Saliba has announced plans to attempt Mount Denali in Alaska, a climb which she said would see her become the first Maltese woman to summit one of the world's most demanding and unforgiving peaks.

Saliba told The Malta Independent about her next major expedition, just weeks after successfully summiting Mount Aconcagua in Argentina last January, revealing that she is now 100 days away from attempting Mount Denali in Alaska, one of the world's most demanding peaks.

Saliba said that the Denali expedition forms part of her ongoing Seven Summits challenge and will once again be undertaken in aid of animal welfare NGO Association of Abandoned Animals (AAA) and cancer support charity Puttinu Cares.

Standing at 6,190 metres (20,310 feet), Denali is widely regarded as one of the toughest mountains on Earth, with climbers facing extreme sub-zero temperatures, fierce winds, unpredictable storms and prolonged isolation.

The combination of high altitude and Arctic conditions has earned the peak a reputation for being colder and more unforgiving than Mount Everest, Saliba said.

If successful, Saliba said she would become the first Maltese woman to summit Mount Denali, marking a potentially historic milestone in Maltese mountaineering.

In her message, Saliba also acknowledged that her recent Aconcagua expedition - the highest peak in South America - would not have been possible without the support of her main local sponsors, Eetwell, Visit Malta and Daniel's Antiques and Collectables.

The climber said she will be sharing the full Denali journey publicly, documenting the months of intensive training and preparation leading up to the expedition, as well as the climb itself, allowing followers to track each stage, challenge and breakthrough.

Saliba's Denali attempt represents the next major chapter in her Seven Summits journey, which combines extreme mountaineering with fundraising and awareness for charitable causes close to her heart.