It's true!

The first Mainer ever has made to the highest point on Earth: The summit of Mount Everest at 8,848 meters or somewhere around 29,100 feet.

Congratulations to John Bagnulo of New Vineyard for this monumental accomplishment, and to his climbing partner, Bill Yeo of Yarmouth, who stopped just shy of the summit and turned back, apparently due to breathing difficulties.

Surviving an Everest climb is done by only the thinnest of margins. At more than 8,000 meters anything that goes wrong is hugely magnified and there is no one there to help you.

To go to Everest is one thing. To return from it is quite another. It is an extremely dangerous endeavor.

Consider that for every 12 successful individual ascents of Mount Everest, 1 person dies. They slip and fall thousands of feet, are crushed by tons of falling ice, are lost forever in bad weather, succumb to pulmonary or cerebral edema, or any of dozens of other bad things that can happen.

The mountain is not kind and does not descriminate. And it is never, ever "conquered." Rather it merely allows you to live, if it so chooses.

So, congratulations on your huge success, John. And to you Bill, for your huge effort. Even more so, congratulations for making it down alive and well.

I know you're going to have big stories to tell. We'll be right here waiting to hear all about it...