A NURSE has begun a gruelling challenge that will see him climb seven of the world’s tallest mountains.
Christopher Smith, an accident and emergency nurse at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, is scaling the highest mountain on each continent, and will descend by skiing back down.
He will join the expedition team of skiers, cinematographers, and a film director as a medic, as they all work to raise awareness of climate change.
“Our goal is to provide local communities with an audience to share their experiences, and to search for positive solutions to the climate crisis,” said Christopher.
“I feel like the skills you acquire in A and E and resuscitation at a major trauma unit really equip you well for this kind of expedition.
“I’ve also had extra training in wilderness and expeditionary medicine on a training course that provides you with a really strong background for these kinds of adventures.”
The group’s first ascent was Mount Elbrus, in Russia, in September 2021.
The next climb will be Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, but a different medical team will be used for this trip. Christopher will re-join the group to scale Puncak Jaya, in Indonesia, in September.
“Sadly, we will most likely be the last people who are able to do this challenge, as the glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate,” said Christopher.
“Scientists project that the glaciers at Puncak Jaya in Indonesia will have disappeared by this time next year. It’s a race against time.”
Groups of people in the areas surrounding each mountain will join the team for the climb, and will feature in the final film project – The Last Ride.
It is the first expedition of its kind in the world – and may never be repeated.
It is hoped that the film they produce, “will create a platform to discuss the impact of global deglaciation on the climate crisis and the effect this is having on all of our lives”.
Following Puncak Jaya, the team will head to Mount Aconcagua, in Argentina, then to Mount Vinson, in Antarctica, next year, culminating with Mount Everest in 2024.
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