GEORGE NEWS - He's only 10, but he's already climbing mountains - literally.

Young George resident Sloan Brent has completed the MountCo Mini Everest Challenge, racking up an astonishing 6 426m of elevation through 17 climbs to the cross on the Outeniqua Mountains.

The cross, a well-known landmark partway up the mountain, became Sloan's training ground. Though not at the summit, each climb to the cross covers a demanding 340m of elevation on steep, technical terrain that challenges even seasoned trail runners.

Over the final weekend of the challenge that ran from Friday to Sunday 26 to 28 September, Sloan pushed through eight climbs, gaining 2 720 vertical metres in just three days to complete the challenge. The event is inspired by the elevation of Mount Everest, scaled down to be tough yet achievable.

Throughout the month, Sloan completed a total of 17 ascents, ending September with 6 426m of total vertical gain. This is an extraordinary achievement for any athlete, let alone someone just 10 years old.

"I just wanted to see how far I could go," said Sloan with a shy smile. "Every climb felt hard, but reaching the cross always made it worth it."

The MountCo Mini Everest Challenge encourages participants to accumulate elevation over time, simulating a mountain expedition using local terrain. For Sloan, that meant turning one tough climb into a personal mission, repeating it 17 times over the month.

Although Sloan was often joined by family members for safety, the drive and determination were all his own. His goal was not to compete, but to complete and to prove to himself that he could.

Now with the Mini Everest behind him, Sloan isn't in a hurry to tackle another challenge just yet. But he already has ideas for the future.

"Maybe one day I'll do the full Everest challenge. But first, maybe some rest ... and pancakes."

Sloan Brent with his sister Elvey, mum Bianca and dad Craig at the cross.

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