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Theodore Fairhurst (born April 18, 1947) is a Canadian entrepreneur, high-altitude mountaineer, author and public speaker. On December 9, 2018, at the age of 71 years and 231 days, Fairhurst became the oldest person in the world, 1st North American, and 9th person in history to have scaled all the Seven Summits and Volcanic Seven Summits.[1]
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2014) |
Theodore Fairhurst | |
|---|---|
| Born | Theodore Frederick Fairhurst April 18, 1947 |
| Alma mater | Sir George Williams University now Concordia University |
| Occupation(s) | Real Estate entrepreneur, mountain climber, adventurer, artist, professional speaker |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Known for | Oldest in the world, first North American, and ninth person to successfully climb Seven Summits and Volcanic Seven Summits Co-author of the book, Dare to reach, L'AVENTURE D'UNE VIE. |
Born in Westmount, Quebec of Canadian and English descent, Fairhurst grew up in Montreal. He went to Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School, Montreal West High School and Concordia University.[2] He began drawing and painting at age four and studied at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in his youth. At 22 years old, his desire to see and experience the world began and he traveled to Europe and Asia. In the Netherlands (1972), Fairhurst transported young travelers around Europe and North Africa for several years.[3]
Fairhurst continued producing art and exhibited at the Atrium Mensa in Amsterdam in 1974. He returned to Montreal in 1976 to advance his artistic career: "His interpretations of “man’s relationship to science and technology” painted on Plexiglas was a body of work that he is still very proud of. He had exhibitions here, in the U.S. and in Europe".[4]
In 1983, Fairhurst built a real estate development business in Montreal. He was recognized by the City de Montreal for several of his projects in 1992. He continues to manage these companies.[2]
Fairhurst became interested in mountains while living in Banff, Alberta in 1969.[3] Later the same year, he went to Nepal and hiked alone for 32 days from Kathmandu to the Khumbu Glacier at the foot of Mount Everest. This experience motivated him to return and climb Mount Everest.[5]
Between 2006 and 2014, Fairhurst completed the Seven Summits achievement by climbing Aconcagua, Denali, Vinson Massif, Mount Everest, Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, Puncak Jaya, and Mount Kosciuszko.[4] He also climbed Cho Oyu and Mont Blanc.
At the age of 70, within an approximate 8-month period from 2017 to 2018, Fairhurst successfully climbed 6 of the Volcanic Seven Summits. Unfortunately, when he was 75m from the top of his final climb, Ojos del Salado, he was shut down. Fairhurst ultimately completed the final climb on December 9, 2018, making him the ninth and first North American to complete both the Seven Summits and Volcanic Seven Summits. He currently holds the record for being the oldest person in the world to accomplish this feat.[6]
Seven Summits
| Date | Summit Name | Continent | Summit Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2006 | Aconcagua[7] | South America | 22,841 ft / 6962m |
| May 29, 2007 | Denali | North America | 20,320 ft / 6190m |
| January 19, 2009 | Vinson Massif[8] | Antarctica | 16,050 ft/4,892m |
| May 23, 2010 | Mount Everest[9] | Asia | 29,035 ft / 8,850m |
| January 25, 2012 | Kilimanjaro | Africa | 19,341 ft / 5,895m |
| August 8, 2012 | Mount Elbrus | Europe | 18,510 ft / 5,642m |
| March 19, 2014 | Puncak Jaya | Oceania | 16024 ft / 4884m |
| April 10, 2014 | Mount Kosciuszko | Australia | 7,310 ft / 2,228m |
Volcanic Seven Summits
| Date | Summit Name | Continent | Summit Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2017 | Mount Elbrus | Europe | 18,510 ft / 5,642m |
| June 9, 2017 | Kilimanjaro | Africa | 19,341 ft / 5,895m |
| September 29, 2017 | Mount Damavand | Asia | 18,403 ft / 5,610m |
| October 9, 2017 | Mount Giluwe | Oceania | 14,327 ft / 4,367m |
| December 21, 2017 | Pico de Orizaba | North America | 18,491 ft / 5,636m |
| January 14, 2018 | Mount Sidley | Antarctica | 14,058 ft / 4285m |
| December 9, 2018 | Ojos del Salado | South America | 22,615 ft / 6,893m |
Other Climbs
| Date | Summit Name | Continent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 2006 | Mont Blanc | Europe | Highest mountain in Alps (15,777 ft / 4,808.7 m) |
| October 5, 2008 | Cho Oyu[10] | Asia | 6th highest mountain in the World (26,864 ft / 8,188 m) |
Fairhurst's video Mount Everest ICE FALL has gone viral on YouTube with over 4.4 million views to date. He shot it with a helmet-mounted camera (POV) in the perspective of the climber. It has video images of the Khumbu Glacier as it breaks up descending from the Western Cwm to Base Camp. Voted top 10 at Killarney 2011 Adventure Film Festival.
Author Jean-Pierre Lemaitre discussed Fairhurst in his book, 'Pas d’excuses’, stating: "I have been impressed by the way Ted Fairhurst managed his life. His philosophy of life is in harmony with the messages and techniques that I present in my book. That's why I decided to make him a key figure in my book. Page after page we discover how he managed to live his passions and to have the life he always wanted. Ted is an example for our youth!"[11]
In 2010, Fairhurst served as the Honorary Chairman of the English Montreal School Board in its annual International Walk to School Day.
Featured in the francophone article chronicling his quest to climb the 7 Summits and Volvcanic 7 Summits: Des Laurentides à l’Everest: les hauts sommets de Theodore Fairhurst[12]
Fairhurst serves as a director of the ESPRIT DE CORPS FOUNDATION.[4]
Beyond mountaineering, Fairhurst has achieved numerous adventures. On August 2, 2014, Fairhurst sailed a Volvo Ocean 60 across the North Atlantic to Quebec.
The same year, Fairhurst cycled the Italian and Austrian Alps from Lake Garda (Italy) to Bludenz (Austria).
In 2015, Fairhurst, Marc-Antoine Laporte and a predetermined team of cycling enthusiasts, mountain biked across Scotland's Highlands, in what is known the Highlands Coast-to-Coast Challenge.
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