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Mike Hamill '99, at the summit of Mount Everest

Mike Hamill '99, a professional mountain and climbing guide, has climbed the "seven summits" (the highest points on all seven continents) in less than a year. He acheived the rare feat in 335 days.

In a press release from the firm he works for, International Mountain Guides, he states, "All the climbs were great. I've got about a month and a half before I head back down to Vinson [Antarctica] so I'm just like everybody else here in Seattle - just waiting for the snow to hit the mountains!"

Hamill earned his St. Lawrence degree in environmental studies-biology and was active in the Outing Club and Cycling Club. He was also a member of the nordic ski team.

The press release also quotes Hamill as saying that the climb on Denali (also known as Mount McKinley, in Alaska) was the smoothest, while Kosciuszko, in Australia, was the most difficult. In addition to climbing the "seven summits" in less than a year, Hamill also climbed Mt. Rainier (twice) and Cho Oyu, in Nepal, in the same 335 days.

Hamill has been a year-round professional guide for eight years, based in Seattle. When not guiding on Mt. Rainier, where he has over 40 summits, his expeditions include three to Everest; five to Cho Oyu; eight to Denali; 16 to Aconcagua; two to Vinson; two each to Ecuador, Kilimanjaro, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Russia, France and Switzerland, as well as others.

International Mountain Guides Web site, with more information on Hamill.

Posted: April 15, 2010