Yuichiro Miura became the first person to ski down the South Col of Mount Everest in 1970. The Japanese skier won international fame and the descent was immortalized in 1975 in an Oscar-winning documentary film, The Man Who Skied Down Everest.

In 2003, he returned to Everest to set a record as the oldest person to conquer the the world's highest peak at the age of 70. However, last year his record was broken by another Japanese man, Katsusuke Yanagisawa, who was 71 years and two months at the time he summitted.

Now, at age 75, Miura is back on the mountain attempting to reclaim the title of being the oldest to stand on the top of the world. After rerouting of the climb, due to recent unrest, from the Tibet side to an approach from Nepal, he left base camp on Tuesday. The team, which includes his son Gota, 38, is hoping to reach the summit on Monday, May 26th, weather conditions permitting.

_{Everest Image Copyright Getty Images Simon Bruty}