While most New Trier High School’s Class of 2012 headed off to college, Wilmette resident Taylor Sweitzer decided to take a different route, postponing college plans to climb the Seven Summits of the world, Wilmette Life reported. 

Sweitzer made the journey to the highest mountain in Antarctica on Jan. 19, skiing to the South Pole and then scaling the summit of Mt. Vinson, which is 16,040 above sea level. He has also conquered the 18,000-foot Mount Elbrus Peak in Europe and the 19,000-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Wilmette Life reported. 

The Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents include Mt. Everest in Asia, Denali in North America, Aconcagua in South America, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Elbrus in Europe and either Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia or Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia, WSJ reported. 

Adventure seems to run in Sweitzer’s blood, the 18-year-old made the trip with a group from Polar Explorers, a Wilmette adventure company run by his father, and three years ago, the Wilmette teen became the youngest person to ski to the North Pole, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

In 2011, Polar Explorers led a trip to South Pole to commemorate the 100th anniversary of man’s arrival at the South Pole. 

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