An intrepid St Andrews University student says becoming the youngest Scot ever to conquer the highest peak on all seven continents was “the most amazing moment” of his life.
At precisely 6.45am on Thursday, Geordie Stewart reached the top of Mount Everest the last nerve-jangling ascent in his gruelling “seven summit” challenge.
The 22-year-old who was supported by high-profile patrons including Bear Grylls and Sir Ranulph Fiennes first hatched plans to undertake the intimidating challenge five years ago.
The history and theology student has thought of little else since and the final realisation of his dream left him understandably emotional.
In a brief phone call to his father, Hugh, from the summit of Everest, Geordie said, “This is the most amazing moment of my life. I am standing at the highest point in the world. I can’t quite believe it.”
He may have followed in famous footsteps the student took the route up Everest previously pioneered by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine in 1924 but Geordie has now entered the record books in his own right.
Supporters back home, including officials from St Andrews University, were delighted to learn of his achievement.
It was Geordie’s second attempt to conquer Everest. He had been poised to complete the seven-summit challenge last year but had to turn back less than 120 metres from the summit to assist his Sherpa guide and two team-mates hit by severe altitude sickness.
This week’s triumph follows earlier successes he has previously conquered Cerro Aconcagua in South America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, McKinley in North America, Vinson Massif in Antarctica and Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania.
His support team spokesman said it was a fantastic time for everybody who has helped him to realise his dreams.
“Nobody is prouder of his achievement than his supporters and friends, without whom he would not have had the courage to complete this challenge,” he said.
“This is the culmination of a dream that Geordie had aged 17. At the summit, he became the youngest Briton to climb the highest mountain in each continent of the world the seven summits.
“This is his moment and we are all so proud of what he has achieved.”
Geordie, who grew up in Hampshire, credits his love of hillwalking to the Scottish side of his family his father is from Banffshire. He began climbing in 2007 and became obsessed with mountaineering. Aged 18 he set off on the seven-summit challenge, climbing Cerro Aconcagua in the Andes.
Hours after Geordie’s success, another member of the same party British teenager George Atkinson (16) became the youngest climber in the world to conquer the seven summits when he reached the peak of Everest.
He is also understood to be the youngest Briton to stand atop the Himalayan summit.
George 17 on Sunday had climbed the three highest peaks in the UK by the age of seven. He started the Seven Summits challenge in 2005, at the age of 11, when he climbed Kilimanjaro.
The previous youngest seven-summit climber is American Johnny Collinson (17), who completed the challenge last year. The youngest person to reach the summit of Everest is Nepali Temba Tsheri Sherpa, on May 23, 2001, aged 16 years, seven days.