British climber conquering peaks for good cause

 BRITISH climber Sophie Cairns, 35, has reached the summit  of Mt Giluwe in her  bid  to  set  a world record to climb the highest volcano on each of the seven continents in the fastest time. 

Her attempt would slash the existing record of over a year to only four months. 

Completing the seven volcanic summits is an increasingly popular challenge for climbers. 

Cairns said she was thrilled to reach the top despite weather conditions as the project was in memory of her father, Anthony Richard Taylor, who passed away in 2008, two weeks after his diagnosis. 

Since then, she has climbed a mountain a year to raise money for a cure for esophageal cancer. 

Mt Giluwe is the highest volcano is Australasia. 

Cairns reached the summit in the cold, rainy conditions on Mar 1 with guides from Paiya Tours and Mt Giluwe eco-tourism, whom she said were “very impressive” and she felt extremely safe with them. 

Cairns started  her  record  bid  in  Dec  by climbing Mt Sidley,  Antarctica. She is travelling to Chile next to tackle the highest peak on the circuit, the massive Ojos del Salado (6,893 metres). 

Jessie Belden

Mt Giluwe