Everest, left, Lhotse and Nuptse, right. Photo: seb bsm

Record-breaking Everest mountaineer Kenton Cool has posted a new first by summiting what he has termed the Ultimate Three Peaks.

The Briton and his climbing companion and friend Sherpa Dorje Gylgen successfully climbed Lhotse, the final mountain in the Everest horseshoe surrounding the Western Cwm.

The two men are the first to achieve the feat of summiting Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse in one trip.

Gloucestershire-based Cool’s ascent during the expedition of the world’s highest mountain also extends his record to 11 successful summits, the most ever completed by a Briton.

Cool and Gylgen climbed to the top of 8,516m (27,940ft) Lhotse, the world’s fourth highest mountain in the early hours of today, having summited Nuptse, Everest and Lhotse on three successive days.

Sherpa Dorje Gylgen and Kenton Cool have set a new record by summiting Three Peaks

Kenton Cool’s London spokesman said: “They summited the three peaks in three nights, a feat that even they didn’t believe would be possible when they set out. This is truly epic in my book.

“Kenton believes that every climb ends when you are safely down, so the ‘Ultimate Three Peaks Challenge’ as Kenton fondly calls it is technically not complete until tomorrow.

“However the three peaks are confirmed as being summited together for the first time ever.

“The descent has been tougher than he was expecting and he has taken the decision to sleep overnight at Everest Camp Two, followed by an estimated arrival in Everest Base Camp at lunchtime tomorrow, Tuesday.”

The first Everest Three Peaks comes nine days before the 60th anniversary of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary’s first successful ascent of Everest in May 1953.