New England Native Breaks World Record by Climbing Mount Everest in 9 Hours & 55 Minutes

I'll be the first to admit that my mountain-climbing experience is pretty limited right now. NOT because I don't love it, but because it's hard finding the time to go.

The highest peak I've ever hiked is Mount Osceola in New Hampshire's White Mountains. At 4,315 feet, it's one of the state's famed 48 four-thousand-footers, and reaching the summit felt like a major accomplishment. The views were incredible, my legs were sore, and I was more than ready for a good meal afterward. And maybe a beer...

That's why it's hard for me to wrap my head around what Massachusetts native Tyler Andrews just achieved.

The Concord, Massachusetts runner recently reached the summit of Mount Everest (the tallest mountain ON EARTH) in a reported 9 hours and 55 minutes, shattering a speed-climbing record that had stood for more than two decades...

Yeah, you should probably read that last sentence one more time!

To put that into perspective, Mount Everest stands at a staggering 29,032 feet above sea level. That's nearly seven times taller than Mount Osceola. If you stacked my biggest hiking accomplishment on top of itself over and over again, it would take almost seven Mount Osceolas to reach Everest's height! *cue mind being blown*

Of course, it's not just the elevation that makes Everest so intimidating. Climbers face freezing temperatures, brutal winds, thin air, and conditions that can change in an instant. Simply reaching the summit is considered a lifelong achievement for many mountaineers.

According to the Concord Bridge, Tyler used "supplemental oxygen, having climbed through the night to ensure he would have time to get back down the world’s highest mountain."

For Andrews, however, the goal wasn't just to make it to the top... It was to do it faster than anyone before him. After years of training, preparation, and previous attempts that were derailed by weather and other challenges, everything came together during his latest climb.

The result was a historic ascent that could earn him a new Everest speed-climbing record (once officially verified).

READ MORE: Soak In This Breathtaking View All Year Round At The Top of Mount Major in Alton, NH

As someone who still looks back proudly on conquering Mount Osceola, I can't imagine the determination, endurance, and mental toughness required to tackle a mountain nearly seven times taller than that. It's an incredible achievement and one that has New England cheering for one of its own from the very top of the world.