'On Top Of The World' At 80: Japanese Climber Summits Everest
A Japanese mountaineer has become the oldest person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest, as Yuichiro Miura, 80, reached the 29,035-foot peak Thursday morning. The feat marks Miura's third time atop Mount Everest; he previously climbed the mountain at ages 70 and 75.
As in 2008, Miura's accomplishment is in danger of being surpassed by his main rival, Nepalese climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, 81. But that possibility didn't seem to bother Miura Thursday, who was joined by his son, Gota, on the climb.
"I'm feeling on top of the world," Miura said by satellite phone, according to the Kyodo news agency. "Even at the age of 80, I can go on and on."
While Miura celebrated at the top of Everest, his rival, Sherchan, was already at the mountain's basecamp, preparing for his own attempt.
"Sherchan, now 81, was preparing to scale the peak next week despite digestive problems he suffered several days ago," the AP reports. "On Wednesday, Sherchan said by telephone from the base camp that he was in good health and 'ready to take up the challenge.'"
Enlarge image i