Former Scots Royal Marine heads to Himalayas to climb Everest
Craig Hunter, 45, is leaving the country to climb the world's tallest mountain and raising cash for the Royal Marine Charity.
Last updated 31st Mar 2023
A Scots Royal Marine Veteran is leaving the country this weekend as he embarks on the journey to climb the worlds tallest mountain.
Craig Hunter from Kilmarnock will leave Glasgow this Sunday and head to Nepal for final preparations before he attempts to climb Mount Everest in the next two months.
The 45-year-old served with 45 Commando at Condor, near Arbroath during his time with the Royal Marines.
The lure of adventure and exploratory challenges is what tempted Craig into the Marines in the first place, and with his time there taking him to the South Pole in 2006, he got some of what he was looking for.
However, despite leaving, the desire to seek adventure hasn’t dissipated and now he’s heading as close to the top of the skies as earth allows.
Craig is raising money for the Royal Marines Charity (RMA).
He’s hoping to raise a minimum of £8848 – a pound for every metre of the worlds tallest mountain.
Craig is telling Greatest Hits Radio it’s worthy cause.
He said: “A lot of the guys I served with, were unfortunately injured and some of them didn’t come home. Some of those who did come home had life-changing injuries.
“So, this charity is amazing, it helps support the people who’ve been impacted by their time with the Royal Marines, whether that is with physical or mental health.
“It also supports the family as well, so it is a fantastic cause.”
Craig has had already been to the Himalayas in Nepal and climbed surrounding peaks around Everest. But after being in the area and getting a taste for the landscape, he couldn’t shy away from the opportunity of going to the summit of Everest – something he believes would be on par with being in the South Pole.
He added: “There is a hell of a lot of people Everest is the summit of their achievements. I believe I’ve done enough to merit the chance to attempt this.
“There’s loads and loads of people who might not be fortunate enough to get the chance, so it’s something I couldn’t not do.
“Just before lockdown I was in the Himalayas doing arguably a more technical peak than Everest called Ama Dablam, it’s like the Matterhorn of the Himalayas. I knew back then I’d be back to do Everest.
It will take Craig several weeks to reach the summit of Everest due to the pressure acclimatisation and waiting for a gap in the weather, but he’ll be recording footage of his adventure.
However all of that is after his big send-off at Glasgow Airport this Sunday.