Mountaineer on top of world after reaching one of world’s highest …

An intrepid North Staffordshire explorer is on top of the world after climbing one of the globe's tallest mountains. Jack Breed, 27, is setting his sights on the highest peaks in the world.

Earlier this year, Jack summited Mount Manaslu, in Nepal - the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres above sea level. The Biddulph man says he has always been an adventurer and likes to push himself.

The worker at Siemens, in Congleton, said: "So I was always a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I always like pushing myself physically and mentally. I enjoy keeping fit, running and cycling, but the mountains were always a priority.

READ: Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire daily news blog | Up-to-the-minute local news, sport, weather and more throughout the day[1]

READ: Parents' anguish as police kept baby's body for 18 weeks and funeral put on hold | Now dad Sam Choules is taking on a charity challenge in memory of tragic Oscar[2]

"You get a great sense of freedom when you're out on the mountain and it just feels great place to be. I've done most of my mountains and climbing in the UK in Scotland and Wales.

"The only experience I had before this was climbing there. I suppose the most significant challenge that everyone has heard about is the national three peaks. I did that last year. It was really good and super cool."

Conquering Mount Manaslu was something Jack had been training for. However, the journey was not without challenges.

Jack said: "When I arrived, I really struggled with altitude sickness. It was really tough; I had mild symptoms, but I was so weak for four-to-five days. I was feeling really dizzy and sick. As time went by, I got better.

"On September 10, I managed to get over my sickness and made my way up the mountain. You would start at base camp, then go up to camp one, stay there for a few days and come back down. You repeat that a few times, going further and further and further to adjust.

"On September 20, we started our summit push. On September 23 at 7.30am Nepal time, we reached the summit. It was amazing, quite overwhelming emotionally.

"It had been a 12-month journey of preparation and we got there and saw an amazing sight. I just sat there in pride. I am almost certain that no-one from Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire has been to this summit.

"I thought to myself, maybe I'm the only person from here to have been to this altitude. Only 3,000 people are known to have climbed it."

Now Jack is already setting his sights on his next adventure. He is aiming to climb Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

Jack added: "I really want to do Everest. It is the holy grail. I am maybe looking for sponsors as it is very expensive. We'll see."

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References

  1. ^ Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire daily news blog | Up-to-the-minute local news, sport, weather and more throughout the day (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  2. ^ Parents' anguish as police kept baby's body for 18 weeks and funeral put on hold | Now dad Sam Choules is taking on a charity challenge in memory of tragic Oscar (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
  3. ^ Sign up for free email alerts to StaffordshireLive straight to your inbox here (data.reachplc.com)