First Saudi female to climb Everest says she's happy to change opinions about Saudi women

Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi Arabian woman to scale the world's highest peak Mount Everest, talks to the media at Yak and Yeti Hotel in Katmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. According to mountaineering officials, Moharrak was among 64 climbers who successfully scaled Mount Everest from Nepal's side of the mountain. May is the most popular month for Everest climbs because of more favorable weather. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) (The Associated Press)

KATMANDU, Nepal – The first woman from Saudi Arabia to scale Mount Everest says she doesn't intend to inspire a movement, but would be happy to change people's opinions of Saudi women and Saudi women's opinions of themselves.

Raha Mobarak told reporters in Katmandu on Tuesday that her next goal is to climb the highest mountains in all seven continents. She says she has already scaled five of the highest peaks.

Mobarak was among hundreds of people who reached Everest's 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) summit in recent days because of favorable weather conditions.

Women's freedoms are severely limited in Saudi Arabia. Females are not allowed to drive and cannot travel or attend school without the permission of a male guardian.

Last year, two Saudi female athletes made an unprecedented appearance at the Olympics.