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.Stone, James. "Updated list of Volcanic Seven Summiters – January 2019" (29 January 2019)

Early years

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. 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.

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".Thompson, June. "A Mountain Climber's Dream" (Montreal Gazette, 12 July 2012)

Business

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.

Mountaineering

Fairhurst became interested in mountains while living in Banff, Alberta in 1969. 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.Benma, Adam. "Everest: A 63-yr-old's journey" (8 November 2010 - Youtube)

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. 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.Brownstein, Bill. "Focus, fitness paramount on Montreal's icy sidewalks: mountain climber" (12 March 2019)

Mountaineering Timeline

Seven Summits DateSummit NameContinentSummit HeightJanuary 23, 2006AconcaguaFairhurst, Theodore. "Climbing Aconcagua — Story and Photos" South America22,841 ft / 6962mMay 29, 2007DenaliNorth America20,320 ft / 6190mJanuary 19, 2009Vinson MassifFairhurst, Theodore. "2009 Vinson Massif Climb Trip Report" Antarctica16,050 ft/4,892mMay 23, 2010Mount EverestHimalayan Database. "Ascents - Spring 2010" Asia29,035 ft / 8,850mJanuary 25, 2012Kilimanjaro Africa19,341 ft / 5,895mAugust 8, 2012Mount Elbrus Europe18,510 ft / 5,642mMarch 19, 2014Puncak JayaOceania16024 ft / 4884mApril 10, 2014Mount Kosciuszko Australia7,310 ft / 2,228m

Volcanic Seven Summits DateSummit NameContinentSummit HeightJune 2, 2017Mount Elbrus Europe18,510 ft / 5,642mJune 9, 2017Kilimanjaro Africa19,341 ft / 5,895mSeptember 29, 2017Mount DamavandAsia18,403 ft / 5,610mOctober 9, 2017Mount GiluweOceania14,327 ft / 4,367mDecember 21, 2017Pico de OrizabaNorth America18,491 ft / 5,636mJanuary 14, 2018Mount SidleyAntarctica14,058 ft / 4285mDecember 9, 2018Ojos del SaladoSouth America22,615 ft / 6,893m

Other Climbs DateSummit NameContinentNotesSeptember 29, 2006Mont BlancEuropeHighest mountain in Alps (15,777 ft / 4,808.7 m)October 5, 2008Cho OyuHimalayan Database. "Ascents - Autumn 2008"Asia6th highest mountain in the World (26,864 ft / 8,188 m)

Video 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.

Media 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!"Lemaitre, Jean-Pierre. 'Pas d'excuses !: Mode d'emploi pour passer à l'action'(Les Éditions de l'Homme, 15 February 2011)

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 Fairhursthttps://tempsdevivre.ca/

Other Fairhurst serves as a director of the ESPRIT DE CORPS FOUNDATION.

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.

References

External links

Dare to Reach website Official Youtube Channel