For this St. John's man, Everest summit is just steps many, many steps away

The journey to the top of Mount Everest is 8,850 metres, or 29,035 feet a lot of steps for St. John's mountain climber Mark Ballard.

"I think human nature pushes you higher and higher," Ballard said.

His trekto the top of the world's highestpeak began long before he ever started planning to tackle the peak this spring.

A yearago, on a whim, the engineer decided to tag along with some buddies who were heading to northern Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

"It started from there," he said. "I wanted to see if I could go higher and push it to harder mountains."

Putting one foot in front of the other, he did just that. So far, he's summited Denali in Alaska, Skomakkarnibba and Kjerag in Norway where he currently works and lives and Island Peak in Nepal.

But Mount Everest is different. It's harder, it's higher and, as the altitude bears down, it's not something every climbercan handle.

It began with his father

Ballard's motivation for his journey beganwith a single step one he watched his father take over and over again.

"My father lost his leg from diabetes and I've watched him for the last three years push himself," Ballard said.

His father, Derek (Doc) Ballard, pushed himself to get out of bed. Pushed himself to sit up on his own. Pushed himself to learn how to walk on an amputated leg.

"That has really inspired me to push myself higher and higher into my goals."

Ballard started training for the punishing climbsix months ago.

Finding time between work as an oil and gas engineerin Norway, he's managedto clock331.5 hours of working out so far.

"I've trained basically two hours a day every day," he said.

"A combination of strength training for legs and back,cardio, and of course in-the-mountains hiking with lots of weight on my back."

Ballard heads to Nepal on April 4 andbegins his climb two days later.

He's signed up with International Mountain Guidesand will join a team heading up Mount Everest.

"If you weren't a little bit nervous, there'd be something wrong," he said.

Flying the Newfoundland flag

Ballard said he will have some cell service and Wi-Fi to keep in touch with his family and friends.

He will also be documenting his climb up Everest on his Instagramaccount.

Ballard said the trip to the top istotally dependent on weather, as the window to reach the summit can open and closequickly.

His best guess is that the trip will take six to eight weeks.

Among the many items he will be carrying in his backpack is the Newfoundland and Labrador flag.

"I am really proud to be a Newfoundlander and I carry that flag on all my climbs."

He hopes to pose with that flag when he reachesthe top.

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