Here’s a more conversational and streamlined version of your article:
"Hey there! I’m here to share my incredible journey of climbing Mount Everest. On May 17th, I reached the summit around 11:40 am. It was a grueling experience, but I’m hoping my story will give you a real sense of what it’s like to conquer the world’s highest mountain.
Despite years of training, the climb was tougher than I could have ever imagined. The mental struggles, the costs, and the importance of choosing the right operator (I went with Furtenbach Adventures) were all part of the journey.
Standing on top of Everest was an achievement like no other. It felt even more profound than when I finished my journey to every country in the world, or when I reached Antigua after rowing the Atlantic. It’s hard to put into words.
Now, a couple of months after the climb, it all feels like a dream. I almost don’t want to talk about it. Maybe it’s because some people see it as a "rich person’s plaything", or maybe it feels like bragging to say "I climbed Mount Everest". But when I’m working in my office or going for a run, I feel a wave of pride and relief. I’ve answered the call to climb the WORLD’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN, and I know it’s done.
So, what’s it like to climb Everest? Why do it? How does it all work? I hope my story will shed some light on these questions. It was a wild ride, to say the least.
Growing up on welfare, with just my mum and my sister, climbing Everest seemed like an impossible dream. But in my 20s, I broke through my self-belief limitations and realized that ANYONE CAN DO ANYTHING. I set a goal of visiting 100 countries by 30, every country by 35, and every country plus the 7 summits by 40. Now, I understand the importance of instilling in kids the belief that their hard work and discipline can help them achieve anything.
As I climbed higher and higher, I was always thinking about Everest. The thought of it was both exciting and terrifying. Not only was it going to be super difficult, but it also carried the risk of death. And then there was the cost. But I finally committed and signed up after rowing across the Atlantic in 2021.
Choosing Furtenbach Adventures was one of the best decisions of my life. They have the highest success rate on Everest, and they also had the best base camp. I trained for over a year to be in the best shape of my life for the climb. I also did hypoxic training to prepare for the lack of oxygen on the mountain.
Climbing Everest was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It was much harder than rowing oceans, cycling across countries, or running through the Sahara. But I did it, and I’m proud of it. I hope my story inspires you to chase your dreams, no matter how big they seem."
