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Sacramento man attempts to be oldest American to conquer Everest

Jim Geiger climbing Mt.Everest

At an age when others might be thinking about collecting Social Security, Sacramento’s Jim Geiger has headed off to climb Mount Everest, where he will attempt to become the oldest American to summit the tallest peak on Earth.

And the 68-year-old said he is ready.

“At 68, I’m in the best shape of my life,” said Geiger, who has climbed some of the world’s highest mountains.

Geiger, who left Sacramento Saturday, was scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal, today where he is to gather with IMG guides and elite mountaineering Sherpas. From there, he flies to Lukla at about the 9,300-foot elevation, the beginning of the trek.

He arrives at Everest base camp April 6, and, if everything goes as planned, he will summit the mountain May 11.

Geiger’s belief that he would be the oldest American to accomplish the feat is echoed by Eric Simonson, co-owner of International Mountain Guides.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article2593664.html