80-year-old Yuichiro Miura to attempt to climb Everest

TOKYO — Adventurer and alpinist Yuichiro Miura has announced that he plans to climb to the summit of Mt Everest in 2013, at the age of 80.

Miura, the Japanese alpinist and adventurer most famous for being the man who skied down Everest in the 1970 documentary, “The Man Who Skied Down Everest,” said he plans to climb the mountain from the north this time after completing two successful climbs on the south, Sankei Shimbun reported.

In 2003, at age 70, Miura became the oldest person to reach the summit of Everest. After this record was surpassed, Miura once again successfully climbed Mt Everest at the age of 75 on May 26, 2008. Late last week, he again lost the record when Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan produced birth certificates to prove that he was 76 when he climbed Everest last year.

In 1970, Miura skied down the Lhotse face using a parachute as drag. He skied 6,600 feet in two minutes and 20 seconds, and then fell another 1,320 feet. Eight sherpas reportedly died during the expedition.

Miura told reporters, “I’m curious to find out how far mankind can push his limits. It’s now or never.” Miura has announced that he will start training for Everest with successive climbs of 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000-meter peaks, Sankei reported. “I want to show that you don’t have to throw away your dreams and ambitions when you hit 80. Eighty is the new 60,” he said.

Miura is the son of Japanese skiing legend Keizo Miura, and father of 43-year-old freestyle skier and alpinist Gota Miura.

Japan Today