climbers halfway ultimate 7 summits speed record

[7summits]

Mountaineer bids for peaks record

AN expedition led by a Cumbrian mountaineer intent on setting a new record for climbing the world’s seven highest peaks has passed the halfway point.

It’s four down and three to go for Dave Pritt, director of Ambleside-based mountaineering company Adventure Peaks, who is now well on the way to breaking the world record for the “Seven Summits” challenge.

The current record stands at 187 days and is held by a Canadian.

Mr Pritt flew home last Thursday having completed the first four summits, Mt Vinson (4897m, Antarctica), Aconcagua (6960m, South America), Kilimanjaro (5892m, Africa) and the Carstensz Pyramid (4884m, Australasia) in an impressive 52 days.

He sets off again tomorrow for the final three, Elbrus (5642, Europe), Everest (8848m, Asia) and Denali (6194m, North America) and is on target to bring the record down to an incredible 140 days.

Mr Pritt said the mountains so far have provided a huge contrast: from Mt Vinson on Antarctica, with temperatures and severe winds down to -50C, to the gentle slopes and majestic beauty of Mt Kilimanjaro, the high altitude experienced on Aconcagua and the technical rock climbing involved in conquering the Carstensz Pyramid.

He said: “Its been an incredible journey so far, much travelling, extremes of temperature, varied cultures, combined with a total contrast in the mountains.

“We are lucky to have this opportunity.”

He is being accompanied on his world record attempt by Ian McKeever, from Ireland.

Mr Pritt has previously led four expeditions to Everest and has summited the world’s highest mountain with clients.

Mr Pritt said: “Mr McKeever and I spent 12 months planning the expedition and in order to do it as quickly as possible, we came up with an idea to do it the opposite way to most mountaineers who attempt the challenge, starting with Everest and ending in Antarctica.”

The challenge is being done in three phases, returning to the UK between each phase for around a week.

Mr Pritt said: “This is the ultimate mountain challenge, usually completed over several years and even then, to date less than 100 people have completed it.”

(note HK: the figure is incorrect, see the full 7 summits statistics here[/url])

Published on 28/03/2007, found on http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=481452

[GJV]

See for up-to-date info: http://www.adventurepeaks.com/news/IanmckeeverNews2007.html

Also check Ian McKeever's site: http://www.takemehigher.ie/index.html

[7summits]

Never underestimate a mountain! Elbrus was one of the '7' that would be climbed in between, but it sent the climbers back down unsuccessfully:

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Mountain beats trio of climbers
Published on 17/04/2007

CUMBRIAN mountaineer David Pritt and two fellow climbers were forced to ditch their attempt to reach the highest peak in Europe after running into harsh weather conditions with several hours still to go.

But the three are still on course to break the world record for climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents.

After being beaten back on Mount Elbrus in the Russian Caucuses last week, they have now switched their sights to Everest.

The trio plan to climb the world’s highest summit in the next month and conquer the North American peak of Denali before returning to Russia for a second attempt on the 5,642m (18,510 ft) Mount Elbrus.

Mr Pritt, a former Keswick School teacher who is director of the Ambleside-based expedition company Adventure Peaks, is attempting the world record with two friends, Ian McKeever and John Whittle.

The record, which is held by a Canadian, stands at 187 days.

Currently the team has climbed four peaks and has three to go.
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Read the full article here on http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=488394