Mitch Hutchcraft, a 31-year-old former Royal Marine from Cambridgeshire, has embarked on a historic climb of Mount Everest, marking the culmination of an extraordinary 13,192km journey from England to Nepal. Starting from Dover on 15 September 2024, Hutchcraft has swum, cycled, and trekked over 236 days to undertake the longest recorded ascent of the mountain from sea to summit. Now at Everest Base Camp, he began the final climb on 8th May at 01:00, aiming to reach the 8,849m peak by 13th May.

Named Project Limitless, this expedition is a self-styled triathlon, making Hutchcraft the first person to attempt a continuous journey from the UK’s shores to Everest’s summit. The challenge has already seen him swim 34km along the English Channel, cycle 11,920km across 18 countries, run an 877km ultra-marathon, and trek 360km. He began the Everest ascent from 5,364m at Base Camp, with the climb expected to take five days.

Before departing, Hutchcraft shared his motivation: “Now all that remains is a wee climb to the top of the world to complete the longest climb of Mount Everest in history. This has been the most painful but fulfilling seven months of my life, but I just want it to inspire others to believe that whatever they’re dreaming, however small, they just need to get out there and smash it.”

The Everest ascent presents formidable challenges. Hutchcraft must navigate the Khumbu Icefall’s treacherous ladder crossings, deep crevasses, fragile ice bridges, and steep ice climbs. At the summit, he will face temperatures as low as -26°C, winds up to 160kmph, and wind chill dropping to -60°C. After months of physical exertion, he has spent recent days acclimatising to the extreme altitude and conditions.

Reflecting on the climb, Hutchcraft said: “After covering the distance from England to Nepal, the toll on my body has been immense. Now, I’m within touching distance of the Everest summit, but I need to be able to reach it and survive after everything I’ve already pushed through. Climbing Everest, after all I’ve endured, can come down to the smallest detail in the most extreme environment on Earth. I’m so close to the end of this journey, after months of relentless effort. I just can’t afford to fall at the final hurdle. It’s going to be incredibly tough, the toughest part of my whole journey, but I am determined to succeed because I want to inspire everyone following my journey and spread as much positivity as I can.”

Hutchcraft’s drive stems from personal tragedy. At 20, he lost his father, spurring him to pursue their shared dream of joining the Royal Marines. Despite a full knee reconstruction, he served for six years until 2021, when he left to chase new adventures. His past feats include rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic, cycling 5,000km across North America, and climbing some of the world’s most challenging peaks.

Through Project Limitless, Hutchcraft is raising funds for SAVSIM, a non-profit supporting veterans’ mental health and wildlife conservation. The organisation aids those with PTSD and contributes to anti-poaching efforts globally. “For me, this is so much more than just a dream to make history,” Hutchcraft said. “It is also the chance to raise funds and awareness for an amazing non-profit organisation very close to my heart and give back to veteran mental health and wildlife conservation.”

As Hutchcraft ascends Everest, his journey stands as a testament to resilience and determination, aiming to inspire others to push beyond their perceived limits while supporting causes that uplift both people and the planet.

Key facts about Project Limitless

• Started in Dover, England, on 15th September 2024
• Covered 13,192km, including a 34km swim, 11,920km cycle, 877km ultra-marathon, and 360km trek
• Everest climb began 8 May 2025, with a target summit date of 13th May
• Raising funds for SAVSIM, supporting veterans’ mental health and wildlife conservation

To support Mitch’s record-breaking world’s longest triathlon, visit Givestar.