Laramie Man Climbs Mt. Everest

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Laramie resident Mark Jenkins has reached the summit of Mount Everest.

Jenkins reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain on Thursday. He called his wife by satellite phone from a lower camp a few hours later.

The University of Wyoming announced Jenkins’ achievement. He first attempted to climb the mountain in 1986 when he was a graduate student at the university. He’s a writer-in-residence for the UW master’s degree program in creative writing.

The 53-year-old Jenkins also covers assignments around the world for National Geographic. He’s been part of a National Geographic team climbing Everest to mark the 50th anniversary of the first American ascent of the mountain.