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An Alberta cyclist has conquered Mount Everest right here in Jasper.
Dean Anderson pedalled his way up Signal Mountain 11 times in a row last week to reach the equivalent 8,848 metre elevation of the highest mountain in the world.
It took him 26 hours and 22 minutes to complete the challenge.
鈥淔or most of these events the mental aspect is more than half the battle,鈥� said Anderson, who has taken part in ultra-distance races since 2015.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be a negative person. Everything that happens, try to get a positive spin on it.鈥�
From his experiences bikepacking from Banff to Mexico and solo racing the Okanagan 24 and 24 Hours of Adrenalin in Canmore, Anderson knew what to expect.
He started his epic ride in the afternoon so he could push through the night and finish in the daytime.
鈥淚 knew what was going to happen,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 knew my lowest point would be in the middle of the night at about 2am when I was tired and it was dark.
鈥淎lso in the morning, I feel really good. The sun comes out, it feels bright, you feel more alive, so I want the ending to be in the morning.
鈥淔inish as strong as possible - mentally strong.鈥�
The weather was calm when Anderson set off but a thunderstorm rolled in overnight and there were times that rain fell thick and fast.
鈥淭he rain made mud all over the place,鈥� said Anderson, 鈥渂ut there were no mosquitos.
鈥淭here are good things you can find in the situation.鈥�
Anderson said the biggest support during the challenge was his wife, Kristin, who camped out in the Signal parking lot while he rode.
鈥淪he was ready to come take care of me,鈥� he said:
鈥淪he would give me food and ask if I needed anything, one time she went to A&W.
鈥淚t was really nice to have that encouragement, too.鈥�
Anderson, a structural engineer, said his family is supportive of his endeavours - despite them taking over the family holidays for the past few years.
He gets up at 3:30 a.m. to train before work a few times a week so he can hang out with his wife and kids in the evenings.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to fill up my evenings so I can spend time with family,鈥� he said. 鈥淕ot to keep the work-life-training balance in check.鈥�
And on Saturdays he rides eight to 10 hours on the trainer in his basement, watching Netflix.
But the 46-year-old Anderson is about to take a well-earned break - he is having his ACL reconstructed and is undergoing a minor hernia operation.
