FORMER Lymm dentist turned intrepid explorer John Moorhouse is feeling on top of the world after becoming only the ninth Briton and 35th person in the world to complete the “grand slam.”
Now aged 60, John may have also created a new Guinness World Record as the oldest person in the world to complete the grand slam, although he still needs to investigate this, as currently there are only world records for the youngest and fastest.
John, who still works part time three days a week, has recently returned from Alaska after summiting Denali (6,190 m) at his third attempt after being beaten off by extreme weather in 2012 and 2015,
completing the seven highest summits in each of the seven continents and both Poles doing last degree on both.
He was inspired by Dick Bass, who in the 1980s set the task of climbing the highest peak on each continent. As a businessman without climbing experience, Mr. Bass defined each continent according to the lay person’s concept – hence Australia’s highpoint, Mount Kosciuszko, was included in the Seven Summits.
Renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner revised Dick’s list by substituting the more difficult Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya) of New Guinea at 4,884 m. for Mount Kosciusko (2,228 m)
John said: “Most people only accept Carstenz these days and discount Kosciusko as the continent is Australasia and not just Australia.”
He is now 35th person to have done the Grand slam (third degree), 48th of all grand Slams and the 9th Briton.
John’s track record is as follows.
Aconcagua (6,962 m) 2004 (bad weather), 2014
North Pole 2006
South Pole 2009
Vinson (4,892 m) 2009
Carsten pyramid (4,884 m) 2010
Elbrus (5,642 m) 2011
Denali (6,190 m) 2012, 2014 (both bad weather), 2016
Everest (8,848 m) 2013
Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) 2015
Commenting on why he decided to do the grand slam John said: “Having skied the last degree to both Poles and climbed Vinson, the most remote of the seven summits in 2006 and 2009, it seemed a logical progression to follow Dick Bass’s example and also climb the highest mountain in each continent.”
Not content with the Grand Slam John is now training hard for IronMan Switzerland on July 24, the North Face Cappadocia race in Turkey in October and improving his sea kayaking technique for Yukon 1000 mile race next year or 2018!
Pictures show John’s recent Denali trip (top) and pictures from his Carstenz pyramid adventure which involved a six day trek through forests with local tribes.
