A FEARLESS alpinist from Thornbury will tread where no British mountaineer has ever dared to before when he climbs five mammoth 7,000-metre peaks in an epic endurance challenge this summer.

Jon Gupta, 25, is bracing himself for one of the most dangerous and taxing scaling expeditions in the world, the former Soviet Union’s Snow Leopard Award, during which he will have to ascend glaciers, melt ice for drinking water and camp in sub-zero temperatures.

Not content with simply being the first Briton to accomplish the major physical and mental feat, only 14 expert mountaineers have succeeded in completing, he has set himself the task of finishing the climb in just 40 days, beating the current world record by 48 hours.

Jon, an expedition leader by trade, will not be alone in adversity as he will be joined by his ski-instructor friend Nick Valentine in July.

He told the Gazette: "Originally a friend asked if I was interested in climbing a 7,000-metre peak called Lenin Peak, one of the Snow Leopards. I did some googling and I stumbled across the Snow Leopard Award and it sounded epic.

"We are aiming for 40 days – to beat the world record of 42 days. But we are allowing a two-month window."

And where many would be shaking in their mountain boots, Jon, who has been longing to step on a plane to Central Asia for almost two years, is just burning to finally tackle the Snow Leopards.

"There will be the obvious dangers of glaciers and avalanches not to forget the freezing temperature we will face.

"I’m not apprehensive, because Nick and I have climbed together and I believe we have enough experience to make good informed decisions.

"I am super psyched. I train hard by running, biking and climbing."

Yet Jon is not just doing it for himself. The expedition may be a dream come true but it is also a means to an end; a way to show dyslexic people like himself that nothing is impossible or out of their reach.

He added: "I’m climbing for Dylsexia Action. My target is to raise £10,000 for Dyslexia Action. My aim is to inspire those with learning difficulties to believe that they can achieve anything.

"I started climbing when I was 18, at university. It is a passion, my life, and I love every thing about the outdoors."

To sponsor Jon go on www.justgiving.com/Jon-Gupta