Spanish climber defies age and past injuries to mark 50 years since his nation's first ascent of the Himalayan giant KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 26 Carlos Soria Fontán, the legendary Spanish mountaineer, stood atop Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m) at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, becoming the oldest person ever to summit the world's eighth-highest peak. Six climbers summit Mt. Dhaulagiri with Seven Summit Treks Canadian-Iranian climber Andrew Aziz calls for safer summit rules After Manaslu success The historic ascent, organized by Seven Summit Treks, commemorated the 50th anniversary of Spain's first expedition to Manaslu in 1975-an endeavor Soria joined but could not complete. Having finally summited in 2010 at age 71, he returned this year to honor what he calls "the unfinished story," guided by his lifelong mantra: "To climb, you have to go." Despite a knee prosthesis and injuries from a 2023 fall on Dhaulagiri, the 86-year-old pressed on with vital support from Sherpa guides Mikel Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, and Phurba Sherpa, along with fellow Spanish climber Luis M. Soriano, according to SST Director Chhang Dawa Sherpa. Soria completed his acclimatization in the Khumbu region before joining his team at Manaslu Base Camp in mid-September. Chhang Dawa Sherpa hailed the mountaineer as a lifelong inspiration. "Carlos is a true inspiration in the mountaineering world. Having dedicated his life to climbing, he has proven that passion and perseverance know no age limits," he said. "From the Alps to the Himalayas, his remarkable career has inspired generations of climbers to chase their dreams against all odds." Born in Ávila, Spain, in 1939, Soria discovered climbing at 14 in the Sierra de Guadarrama. His high-altitude career began in the Alps in 1960, leading to lifelong achievements including Elbrus (1968), Denali (1971), and Everest (2001). He holds the unique distinction of being the only person to have scaled ten of the world's 14 8,000-meter peaks after the age of 60, with summits of K2 (65), Kanchenjunga (75), and Annapurna (77), among others. Soria has also completed the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on each continent, a feat he accomplished in his 70s. Expedition Director Chhang Dawa Sherpa emphasized that the climb honored history and perseverance as much as it set a record. Soria himself reflected, "This climb is not about records; it is about legacy." From his first teenage treks to conquering the world's most formidable peaks, Carlos Soria's journey continues to redefine the limits of age and the human spirit.