Well, It’s Different

The oldest man to ever climb mount Everest marked the occasion by leaving a photograph of his dog at the summit of the world's tallest peak.

Takao Arayama, aged 70 years and 225 days when he topped the world's highest mountain last Wednesday, beat the record held by a fellow countryman by just three days.

Arayama, who confessed to suffering headaches and breathing difficulties during the oxygen-aided ascent, said it was a wonderful feeling when he finally reached the top of the 8,848-metre (29,028-foot) mountain.

"I am very happy to be the oldest man to scale the world's highest peak," the fit-looking and ruddy-cheeked Arayama said on his return to Nepal's capital Kathmandu.

The previous record holder was Yuichiro Miura, a professional skier, who made it to the summit of Everest in May 2003 aged 70 years and 222 days, according to Guinness World Records.

"I stayed for 30 minutes on the top of the mountain and took some pictures and left a picture of my dog, Pacu," said the married father of two.

I mean, I've heard of climbers leaving all kinds of things behind to mark their achievement. They also occasionally leave themselves, but that's another story.

Maybe he just should have sung a song. You know, Nearer My Dog To Me.