Portland's O'Brady finishes Explorers Grand Slam in record fashion

Colin O'Brady is part of mountaineering lore.

The Portland resident and Lincoln High graduate climbed Mount Denali and summited the Alaska mountain late Friday night, setting the world record for accomplishing the Explorers Grand Slam faster than anybody  ever.

It took the 31-year-old O'Brady 139 days to climb the highest peaks on seven continents and ski the last degree to the North and South poles.

The previous record was 192 days.

The news was reported on his blog, beyond72.com, as O'Brady made his descent down Denali.

O'Brady's quest started when he reached the South Pole on Jan. 10, and ended May 27.

He battled winds on Denali, helped by partner Tucker Cunningham.

A former swimmer at Lincoln and Yale, a trained endurance athlete and triathlete and an accomplished mountaineer, O'Brady went up and down mountains and skied to the North and South poles quickly to obliterate the world record.

The mountains and feats conquered:

 South Pole, Jan. 10

 Vinson (Antarctica), Jan. 17

 Aconcagua (South America), Jan. 31

 Kilimanjaro (Africa), Feb. 9

 Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania), March 4

 Elbrus (Europe), March 10

 North Pole, April 19

 Everest (Asia), May 19

 Denali (North America), May 27

O'Brady partnered with Alliance for a Healthier Generation on the project, spurred on by his desire to fight childhood obesity and serve as an inspiration for people.