Dorset man climbs Mount Everest for Friends of the Earth

A man has climbed to the height of Mount Everest to raise awareness about climate change.

Chris Horan, 44, from Corfe Mullen, Dorset, climbed a total of 8,849m (29,032ft) over 140 consecutive days and raised over £1,700 for environmental charity Friends of the Earth.

He completed his challenge on Thursday and said it was “very nice” to reach the finish line.

“My elbows hurt a lot, I really need a break,” he said.

Mr Horan said he had always enjoyed climbing because it was “really nice to do with the family”.

He often climbs with his children, aged eight and ten.

“For me, climbing is a family activity and the climate change issue is of course about concern for … future generations,” he said.

“The whole climate thing is their fault.”

His challenge began with the goal of climbing 1.48 km (1 mile) to “the 1.48 degrees hotter it was in 2023″ than the long-term average.

“As a follow-up to that, I then climbed to the summit of Everest,” he said.

He completed his final climb on Thursday in Portland, Dorset, and then went to a Nepalese restaurant with his family to celebrate.

On Friday – the first day since February that he had not climbed – he said he “didn’t know what to do with myself”.

However, he admitted that his body could probably use the rest.

“I can only sleep one way – face down with my arms at my sides, otherwise my elbows hurt,” he said.

Still, he said he would probably go climbing on the weekend.

“I still love it,” he said.