There are many things in this world that can make me, your beloved vixel, swoon to the point of fainting. Hunky firemen who can gloriously conquer the tallest mountain in the world is definitely up there in the top fives.

Tanner Bixler, a twenty year old UC Davis senior and local firefighter, set foot atop the highest mountain on Earth May 24. His treacherous journey began on April 9, when he arrived at base camp. He spent two months scaling the foothills of the mountain in preparation of the big climb.

With him were about 250 other mountaineers sharing the same goal of overcoming one great, big obstacle. Together, they reached the Everest high camp, a death zone of 26,000 feet, on May 23. After a final trudge, the group were finally able to reach the peak of the mountain where a Sherpa snapped the photo you see above.

Wicked coughs, several frostbites and loans of about $25,000 later, Bixler has got himself one of the most amazing stories to tell at dinner parties.

Of climbing the mountain a second time he says it isn't in his plans at all. Not that the great Everest has tamed him, but that he could never put his family through the same state of constant anxiety again.

Please excuse me while I go swoon some more.

Check out the complete story here. Check out Tanner's website here.