Climber sets new Everest record

KATHMANDU: Spanish mountaineer Kilian Jornet has set a record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest without fixed ropes or supplementary oxygen, climbing the world’s highest peak in just 26 hours, his team said on Tuesday.

Jornet scaled Everest’s north face, starting from the base camp on the Tibet side of the mountain, and reached the summit alone early on Monday.

"We believe Kilian established a new fastest known time for the route from Everest Base Camp," Laura Font from his press team told AFP.

"He climbed Everest without the use of O2 or fixed ropes and in one single push in 26 hours."

Climbing without using fixed ropes or oxygen is known as alpine-style mountaineering and is seen as a faster and lighter form of the sport.

Jornet has previously set speed records on Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Denali, Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro.

AFP could not independently verify his claim. Climbs are usually only confirmed by the authorities once the mountaineer returns with proof such as summit photos and GPS data.

The 29-year-old had hoped to set a record for the fastest round trip -- from base camp to the summit and back again -- but was hit by stomach problems on his descent and stopped at a higher camp to recover.