O’Brady attempts seven summits and two poles record

Colin O’Brady is on a mission. He is hoping to break the current record of 6 months 11 days to conquer seven tallest mountains in seven continents and two poles, a feat successfully completed by only 44 people to date.

He started with the South Pole, leaving his home in Portland, Oregon on Christmas Day to fly to Union Glacier in Antarctica. On Jan 4, he started his started his 69 miles ski to the South Pole. The clock had started. Over the next five and a half months, he needs to tick off summiting the tallest mountains in seven continents and a trek to the North Pole off his list.

Known as the Explorers Grand Slam, this is a daunting nine-part adventure which O’Brady admits is an incredible endurance challenge. However being a professional triathlete who has competed in 25 countries over the last seven years means he has the endurance and the discipline necessary.

South Pole might have been a piece of cake compared to what lies ahead for the adventurer. He will attempt Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, in May immediately after trekking to the North Pole.

It has to be said, Everest is an extreme challenge. No one was able to summit it last year. Even skilled mountaineers need luck on their side and good weather. He is hoping that the other summits on his quest will work as prep for Everest. Last year he climbed the 8th highest peak in the world, Mt. Manaslu also in Nepal as a stepping stone towards his Grand Slam attempt.

If all goes as planned, he hopes to climb Denali in Alaska in mid-June, completing the grand slam in less six months.

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