The Wicklow climber bidding to break the world record for the fastest ascent of the seven highest peaks on all seven continents has successfully scaled his sixth mountain, Elbrus.
Bitterly cold conditions had forced Ian McKeever to abandon his summit bid on the 5,642 metre Russian peak in April and he headed to Tibet for an attempt on Everest without Elbrus under his belt.
McKeever (37) reached the summit of Everest on May 16th, succumbing to snow blindness on the descent. Yesterday, just 15 days later, he topped out on Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe.
Conditions were far from ideal on this week's second attempt, with poor visibility meaning the climbers had to rely on GPS to find their route, but despite the difficulties, they reached the top at 4.20am Irish time yesterday.
"All we have to do is stay safe and healthy on the last mountain," McKeever told The Irish Timesfrom his hotel in Russia yesterday. "We're on the home straight now."
The Elbrus summit marks McKeever's sixth peak in 126 days, starting on Mount Vinson (January 25th), followed by Aconcagua (February 11th), Kilimanjaro (March 3rd), Carstensz Pyramid (March 16th), Everest (May 16th) and Elbrus yesterday.
McKeever now has 61 days to climb the American mountain, Denali, if he is to beat the current world record of 187 days for the seven summits. He heads for Alaska on June 10h and is aiming to reach the summit of Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, by June 25th.
The current record for the seven summits was set last year by Daniel Griffith. The Canadian started his speed ascent with success on Everest on May 24th last year, finishing on Mount Vinson in Antarctica on November 27th, four days after his 56th birthday.
McKeever's Ulster Bank Seven Summits Challenge is raising funds for the Irish Osteoporosis Society and Sophia Housing. Donations can be made by logging on to www.takemehigher.ie