If you don’t think age is largely a state of mind and attitude is everything than you probably haven’t met the likes of Yuichiro Miura. He’s the Japanese alpinist who set the record in 2003 for being the oldest climber to summit Mount Everest when he was then aged 70.

He’s now preparing for another record hoping to summit Everest in 2013 at then age 80.

Having done a bit of rope work in the late 1970′s when then in my mid-20s I’ve always had an interest in climbing as I love the alpine regions of the world. However at the time flying and kayaking held more sway and the few tentative snow slogs in South America (Peru) I was supposed to go on never materialized.

Moving forward thirty years and I’m thinking the time has come. I’ve been toying with the idea of taking a shot at Mount Everest at age 65 which is still a bit over eight years hence.

I figure that’s sufficient time to develop the rope and related mountaineering skills, a bit of which I already know, and moreover to build the actual mountaineering experience. I suspect starting with some of the easier peaks of the western US such as Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood are good training grounds and then, when ready, take a shot at Mt. McKinley before deciding if I’m ready for Everest.

I would like to hear from anyone entertaining the same and/or more importantly those that have “been there – done that!”

For those interested in the topic here’s a link or two:

• Alpinist Alan Arnette’s blog on climbing
• National Geographic article Everest at 50