Out Mountain Climber Aidan Hyman Ascends to K2 Base Camp
Out extreme athlete Aidan Hyman has made it to the top of the world.
As reported by Outsports, the mountaineer recently reached K2's base camp, the second highest mountain on Earth, and he celebrated his feat with a show of pride at 16,896 feet above sea level.
Hyman, 20, was snapped waving an LGBTQ Pride flag in the air when he reached the top.
"I certainly felt like it was a testament to how far I've grown as person that I wanted to be unapologetically myself," Hyman told Outsports. "So maybe I'll make references, I'll speak a certain way, or I'll dance however I want to or listen to music. And I'll just bring up topics. Like I asked, 'Does it make you uncomfortable' or 'How do you feel that I'm gay and I'm on this climb?'"
Hyman reportedly battled bad weather and a bad fever on his way up. But what he was most proud of was the acceptance that he felt among the other climbers.
Hyman reportedly made friends with a few Americans who hailed from the rural parts of the United States and remarked how accepting they were. "I didn't realize how open minded our generation is," he reflected.
And then there was the view.
"The feeling was...it was indescribable, honestly," said Hyman. "Not only is it profoundly beautiful, your brain can't wrap your head around how big these mountains are."
It was Hyman's Sherpa who agreed to take a photo of him with the flag.
"It was just surreal. I just felt that since Stonewall, we've already made so much progress, and here I am in an Islamic country holding a Pride flag at one of the pinnacles of the climbing world. It was a crazy feeling and it felt way bigger than myself," he said.
Check out pics from Hyman's IG: