I am
always up for a good true story. There aren’t many that don’t get my attention.
I can have my interest peaked in a number of ways: history, medicinal miracles,
but especially stories of unlikely survival. The bravery, brawn, and brains
that are beyond what seems humanly possible, these are the kinds of true
stories that fascinate me. What made those people survive that disaster and
come out swinging? I simultaneously want to admire, sit back in amazement, and
take notes in case God forbid I am ever in that situation. Luckily for me the
chances of falling into the trouble my latest obsession has is not likely.
Mount
Everest is known the world over as the highest point on Earth. Saying that
simple fact isn’t enough to entice me to see it in person but I know there are
MANY who do not share this sentiment. The desire to seek out Everest and climb
to it’s submit, which is 29,029 feet above sea level, astounds me. I was
already terrified and I had yet to learn how many more dangers there were than
what is obvious. The history of Everest’s geography, exploration, disasters,
and accomplishments will never get old for me. In fact a recent movie has
created an obsession leading me to want to learn everything I can about this
Mecca for mountaineers.
While I
have always found Everest fascinating it was the recent release of “Everest”
this past September that brought it fully to my attention. The commercials had
my total focus and I knew I had to go to see it. I grabbed a girlfriend and
some popcorn and I sat in anticipation. I know there have been mixed reviews,
especially by Jon Krakauer who was on the particular mission featured in the
film.
For the
first time I was able to follow this story, which takes place in 1996, step by
step. Also the layout of the mountain has phrases commonly used like the
Hillary Step, Base Camp, etc. and now I have actual images to go along with
those words. I was able to learn quickly how many issues become deadly so fast
in that environment.
When it
was over I was stunned. I was still absorbing all of this new information and
at the same time asking my counterpart a long series of questions. I needed
more information, much more.
That led
me on a quest first through Netflix. I watched “The Wildest Dream”, “Everest”
(2007 version has a different story than in the one from 2015), and “Into Thin
Air”. Then I decided to read “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer being as he was
there on that infamous 1996 trip. This book is a first hand account of what
happened, through his eyes. It is a riveting book; one you don’t want to put
down despite how hard some of it is to read.
I felt
like I was there but grateful that I wasn’t every time I got to a part too
upsetting to think about. I utterly cannot believe anyone would put their
bodies through that even if they are ‘successful”. The SEVERE altitude sickness
and essential brain death sound too horrific to imagine. It is completely
incomprehensible. On top of that there is the extremely dangerous terrain into
the mix. I had no words when the whole scenario was laid out in front of me.
I also
had no clue that to begin the climb to Everest you had to walk to the mountain
for days to weeks. That seems like an adventure all in itself. Apparently you
also had to plan to be away from home for at least two months or longer.
Between trekking back and forth, taking the time to acclimatize to the
attitude, and go to the summit back down to base camp, the days fly by. I am
sure that time ticks by slowly when you are one the living through it.
The time,
dedication, and enormous expense (anywhere from around $65,000 and higher per
person) is mind-blowing especially when you consider the high probability of
death. I have a pit in my stomach as I type those words.
Krakauer
says:
“Everest is not real
climbing. It’s rich people climbing. It’s a trophy on the wall and they’re
done,” he says. “When I say I wish I’d never gone, I really mean that.”
After
most of the literature I have read I still can’t quite get my head around Mount
Everest as a bucket list item. There were even some positive stories, miracles
actually (I wont ruin it in case you haven’t seen the current “Everest” movie
yet) but sadly they are few and far between.
Mount
Everest is called “The Goddess of the Sky” and the Sherpas from Nepal that
provide the crucial aid for climbers believe very strongly in the power of this
Goddess. Mother nature is central to their religion. To pay their respects
before any expedition there is a special ceremony all must participate in to
ask for permission and show respect to this high holy mountain. I wonder what
the statistics are when you compare the negative warnings after this ceremony
to timing of the natural disasters. With something so dangerous I would heed
every single warning that appeared even if it came from a carrier pigeon.
So after
discovering all of this, why would anyone even attempt to climb Mount Everest?
I think
the quote below, from “Big Magic”, is the best way to answer this question. (http://thequeenoffckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015_09_01_archive.html)
“If you can’t see what I’m already getting out of
this, then I’ll never be able to explain it to you………When you do it for love,
you will always do it anyhow.”
And that is something I certainly can
relate to.
For More
Information:
For Other
Moving True Stories:
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