Kenton Cool attempts to climb three Himalayan peaks

Kenton Cool (r) is climbing with Sherpa Dorje Gylgen

A British mountaineer is attempting to climb Mount Everest and two adjoining summits in one continuous climb.

The peaks of Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m) and Nuptse (7,861m) form the Western Cwm, a wall of rock and ice that is part of the route to Everest.

Kenton Cool, who lives in Gloucestershire and has climbed Everest 10 times, has set off in a bid to become the first to claim the trio.

He said he would need a "bucket load of good luck" to climb all three.

"I'm not sure if it is possible to climb all three of these monsters in one go," he said from Everest Base Camp. "But that's surely the best reason of all to try.

"The Western Cwm is one of the most magical places I have ever been to.

"I'm hoping that I will be able to climb all three mountains without returning to base camp, but for that I'm going to need a bucket load of good luck and a heap of good weather."

Relatively low winds are forecast on Everest for the next four days, which should allow Mr Cool to reach one of the summits. He then plans to sit out an expected patch of bad weather in a high-altitude camp before going on to the final two peaks.

"If all goes well, I'll be away from base camp for 10 days," said Mr Cool.

"There will be little or no updates from me during that time. The climbing will be hard enough. My focus will be on the mountains."

Mr Cool began his attempt on Thursday. He is undertaking it with long-time climbing partner Sherpa Dorje Gylgen, who has shared six of his 10 Everest climbs.