Canadian Breaks World Record

Canadian Breaks World Record

INVERMERE, BC, Nov. 28 /CNW/ - Daniel Griffith has made Canada and the Canadian Alpine community proud by setting an incredible world record. Dan, a Stratford Ontario native, has just finished climbing the highest peaks on each of the seven continents within 187 days, which puts him in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Dan, 55, is the oldest Canadian to have conquered Mt. Everest.

The quest began on May 24 on the summit of Mt Everest at 6:30 a.m. (Nepal) and was completed on November 27 on the top of Mt Vinson at 4:30 p.m. (Chile).

Dan took three attempts to summit Mt Everest: his first attempt was with the Everest Light Canadian Team in 1986. He was able to assist Sharon Wood, the first Canadian woman to summit Everest on their summit bid however the weather turned bad forcing the rest of the team off the mountain.

Three children and 20 years later, Dan decided to try for his dream again and attempted to climb Mt Everest a second time in 2005. High winds once again forced him off the mountain. On his third attempt, Dan reached the summit of Mt Everest and was able to stay on top for an entire hour.

Dan climbed three of the seven summits in record time with his 26-year-old son Luke and was joined on the top of Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa by his entire family.

Dan has been a true mentor for hundreds of young men and women who aspire to do great things in the mountains. He would be the last one to boast about his achievements and the first to encourage others to reach out for their dreams.

Seven Summits in seven months:
Mount Everest in Nepal on May 24, 2006
Mt McKinley in Alaska on June 15, 2006
Mt Elbrus in Russia on July 4, 2006
Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia September 24, 2006
Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania October 3, 2006
Mount Aconcagua in Argentina October 20, 2006
Mount Vinson in Antarctica November 27, 2006