'It feels almost like a dream': Sask. man conquers Mount Everest

A Saskatchewan man is still on a high after joining the ranks of mountain climbers from Saskatchewan who have reached the peak of Mount Everest.

Landry Warnez summited Mount Everest earlier this month. It took him four days to reach the top of the mountain, the tallest in the world above sea level, in Nepal from Everest base camp.

He didn't sleep for the final 24 hours of the ascent.

"At the top because it's low oxygen — you're using supplementary oxygen — it feels almost like  a dream," said Warnez, who is originally from Balcarres and currently living in Saskatoon. "You're not thinking completely clearly, but it's pretty amazing."

Warnez credits trekking through Nepal and spending time at Everest base camp last year for fuelling his desire to climb to the peak.

"I've always been drawn to looking for an adventure, right, and that's something that I wanted [to do] at this point in my life," Warnez said.

Landry Warnez, left, celebrates on the summit of Mount Everest after a four day ascent. (Submitted by Landry Warnez)

Warnez says it took a lot of training to prepare for the expedition. He spent months in the gym building up his strength and cardio in addition to doing climbing-specific training in Canmore, Alta.

"A big thing to climbing Everest is cardio," Warnez said. "You're climbing between eight to 12 hours a day, multiple days on end."

Warnez says the challenges associated with summiting Mount Everest include getting sick, exhausting the oxygen supply at the wrong time, and attempting the trek in the wrong weather window.

"With Everest the risk is really highlighted internationally when people die, but I obviously felt that it was a risk I was willing to take," Warnez said

Warnez says the risk didn't end once he made it to the summit of Mount Everest: It took two days to get back down to base camp.

"You're ecstatic [at the top] but also realize you have quite the challenge to just get off the mountain ,"Warnez said.

One of the camp's where Warnez stayed during his climb. (Submitted by Warnez)

Warnez, who described the climb as exhausting but rewarding, made sure to represent his home province when he got to the peak by posing with the Saskatchewan flag for a few pictures.

"I have a lot of pride coming from Saskatchewan, and I thought it [bringing the flag] would be something unique," Warnez said. "I think there have been around 100 or over 100 Canadians [who] have climbed Everest, but only only a handful from Saskatchewan."