Flathead man achieves dream of summiting Mount Everest

Steve Stevens stops for a quick photo with Mt. Everest in the background on his way to Base Camp. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Steve Stevens celebrates at the top of the world, 29,029 feet above sea level on the summit of Mt. Everest, on May 12. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Pemba Tashi Sherpa (left) and Steve Stevens stop for a quick photo near the summit of Mt. Everest May 12. Tashi died in an accident on the mountain less than a week later. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

At 22,349 feet, Ama Dablam looms over the path from Namche to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Mount Everest looms over the surrounding valley in Nepal. Flathead Valley golf pro Steve Stevens climbed the 29,029-foot peak in May. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Sun sets on the Thame Khumbu Valley in Nepal on the path to Mt. Everest. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Steve Stevens recently achieved his dream of climbing Mt. Everest in the Himalayas in Nepal. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

The sun rises over Everest Base Camp in Nepal. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

The workhorse of the Himalayas, a yak delivers supplies to Everest Base Camp. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

The view towards the southeast from the top of Mt. Everest. The fifth tallest mountain in the world, Makalu, sits below in the distance at 27,838 feet. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Steve Stevens makes the trek through the Western Cwm on Mt. Everest in Nepal. Camp I is visible in the background. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Daylight begins to fill the horizon behind the Cornice Traverse near the summit of Mt. Everest May 12. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

The shadow of Mt. Everest stretches across to the horizon as the sun rises over the Himalayas May 12. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

The sun rises over Camp II on Everest at 21,300 feet. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Lhakba and Steve Stevens make their way through the Khumbu Icefall. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Nighttime at Everest Base Camp in Nepal. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Climbers make their way through the Khumbu Icefall between Base Camp and Camp I on Mt. Everest. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Climbers pass the Yellow Band on their journey from Camp III to Camp IV on Mt. Everest. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)

Steve Stevens carried 10 folded American flags with him during his climb to top of Mt. Everest May 12 to help raise fund for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Stevens hopes to auction the flags at PGA golf tournaments this year to help support the organization. “This is a way for me to be able to give back to others. What the Folds of Honor does is amazing and I would love to be able to help them out,” Stevens said. (Photo courtesy of Steve Stevens)