Burnaby's Ravil Chamgoulov has conquered Mount Everest, completing his mission to scale the seven highest peaks on all seven of the world's continents.
The Burnaby engineer is now one of roughly 350 people who have conquered all seven, Everest being the mother of them all.
"It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, because it's very expensive and time consuming," Chamgoulov told the NOW. "It's been my dream and goal for years. Now I am very happy, and I've completed my seven-summits quest."
Everest, which stands at 8,848 metres above sea level, was the last notch in Chamgoulov's belt, and he reached the peak on May 25 at 7 a.m., after a night of climbing. He returned from his two-month expedition on May 31.
Chamgoulov said it was a difficult climb, but he felt a sense of relaxation and achievement when he reached the top.
"Sometimes you feel excitement on the summit, this time I felt responsibility for my sponsors. I had to do a lot of pictures," Chamgoulov said.
Chamgoulov spent about half an hour at the peak, which is considered long because the air is so thin.
Everest is a particularly deadly climb, and while many have reached the peak over the years, hundreds have perished. Causes of death range from falling into crevices, heart attacks, strokes, avalanches and altitude sickness, while many have simply disappeared.
Chamgoulov organized sponsors to help pay for his trip and raised roughly $55,000 for the $65,000 climb. He is also raising money for Mining for Miracles, which helps the B.C. Children's Hospital.
With Everest behind him, Chamgoulov now plans to climb local mountains around Vancouver.
"(Everest) was the highest mountain, but it wasn't the most technical mountain I've ever climbed. There are many mountains around that are interesting to climb," he said. "This is not the end for me."
