Fastest completion of the Seven Summits (Messner and Bass lists)

What to remember

Between the top of Vinson, reached on 17 January 2016, and the summit of Denali on 27 May 2016, Colin O'Brady completed the Seven Summits in 131 days, covering both reference lists, the Messner list and the Bass list. That 2016 run broke the speed record for the challenge.

The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each of the traditional continents. The idea came from the American Richard Bass, who became the first climber to stand on all of them when he reached Everest on 30 April 1985. Because continental boundaries are open to debate, two lists exist: Bass counts Mount Kosciuszko for Australia, while Reinhold Messner swaps it for Puncak Jaya in New Guinea.

Covering both lists therefore means adding one more peak to the schedule. Stretching from Asia to Antarctica, the circuit has become a popular goal for adventure mountaineers using expedition techniques, even though climbers no longer treat it as a major achievement.