Everest 2013: Interview with Gosia Borchardt – Pushing Her Limits

This interview with Gosia Borchardt is one of an ongoing series I do each season with Everest climbers. Not the famous, sponsored ones who get plenty of publicity but the regular people, here who often have full time jobs, full time families and climb for the love of the climb. This is one of the last interviews as the regular seasons starts up. Now here’s Gosia:

As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) working at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Gosia has seen it all. In her capacity, she is responsible for keeping up with blood loss and running a couple of Level-1 transfusers, or preventing someone’s heart attack or stroke by monitoring their vital signs and correcting them appropriately.

In her spare times, she participates in yearly medical missions to the Dominican Republic and climbs mountains.

With the goal of reaching the top of the 7 Summits, Gosia has climbed Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Aconcagua and had an “interesting” experience on Denali. She now has her analytical eyes set on Everest and is putting everything she has into getting ready.

Born and raised in Poland, her mother won a visa lottery and the entire family moved first to Chicago then to St. Louis when Gosia was 15. She is surrounded by support with her husband, Andy, going to Base Camp with her. Gosia had to apply for a leave of absence from her hospital but once her supervisors understood that it was not everyday someone has the chance to climb Everest, they fully supported her dream.

An avid photographer, she is excited to capture the experience and then to sell them in her local fairs when she returns home

Please meet Gosia Borchardt.

 Q: Let’s start with your in 2010 of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS), a rare condition that involves pain in the neck and shoulder, numbness and tingling of the fingers, and a weak grip. The ment involved two high risk surgeries. How are you today?

I am pretty much 100% back to normal if I take necessary precautions.  I have a winged scapula which contributed to my TOS so proper posture at all times is mandatory.  For my hiking and mountaineering I selected a backpack with a huge reinforced waist belt and I modified it so the straps sit above my shoulders and there is no pressure over the surgical area.  I have been symptoms free for over a year now, but I realize that TOS is a chronic condition, so I hope that by taking the described precautions I will continue to be healthy.

Q: Similar to many Everest climbers, you are going for the 7 Summits with Kili, Elbrus and Aconcagua already completed. Why the 7 Summits?

While hiking Kilimanjaro someone put a bug in my ear about the 7 Summits.  After completing Elbrus and Aconcagua I decided to really go for it!  I think that climbing these mountains is an ultimate test of physical and mental fitness.  Some people do marathons…  I do the mountains 🙂

Q: Everest is a long expedition being gone for 2 months. Any thoughts on how to cope missing home, family and your beloved Saint Bernards and a cat during that time?

I am lucky enough to have my husband accompany me all the way to Base Camp.  I will certainly miss him and the rest of my family/friends during the remaining time on the mountain, but it will only be 6-7 more weeks.  When I climb I try to take one day at a time and it helps to know that people back home are rooting for my success, and by thinking of me they are essentially ‘with me’ throughout the whole climb.

Q: You were turned back on Denali by weather, was there a lesson from that experience you will apply on Everest?

I was actually turned back from Denali and Elbrus by weather…  I went back to summit Elbrus the following year and I plan to go back to Denali next year to hopefully reach the peak.  It is certainly extremely disappointing that after so much hard work and having the summit within the grasp of my hand I had to turn around…  Everest is a one-time deal for me (unless I win a lottery!!!) so if that happens I will be heart broken!!  However, I will choose my life, fingers and toes over a pile of rock and snow any time!! :). Even if it is the highest mountain of the world 🙂

Q: A common question is how “regular” people finance expensive climbs like Everest. I see that you have take a second mortgage out on your home. Is Everest that important to you?

Everest certainly is important…  Can’t complete 7 Summits without Everest!!  Even though I took out an extra loan for for the expedition, I believe that it is only money!  I have been working overtime to help reduce the debt, and with time and maybe some sponsorship (hint hint to the generous readers out there?!) I will eventually pay it off.  Again, I am very fortunate to have an understanding husband who shares my beliefs in living life to the fullest, and who fully supports my dreams.

Q: You are very clear that safety is number one for you Gosia. What steps are you taking to ensure that objective?

First off, my choice of the outfitter I am going with on the mountain.  I have climbed with 2 other companies and I can say hands down that Alpine Ascents is the safest and most organized company so far!  I have also climbed with my to-be-Everest-guides, Garrett Madison (Aconcagua) and Brien Sheedy (Denali), and I am extremely confident in their skills.  I know they will not let anything bad happen to me!
Besides choosing the top notch company, I always take necessary steps to stay healthy on the mountain.  I drink a lot of fluids and make myself eat a lot to stay warm and energized.  Being a sweets addict that I am, I even ask friends to bake some delicious cakes/brownies for me so it’s easier for me to eat on the mountain. 

In addition, I have arranged for additional oxygen bottle for the summit push.  It’s actually your experience, Alan, that made me do it!!  What’s another $1500 when I already spent $70K on this trip, but it could make a difference whether I summit or not 🙂

Q: Have you prepared yourself mentally if you have to turn back on Everest?

Hmm…  That is a tough question…  Like I said above, Everest is a one-time deal, so if I don’t reach the peak, my dream of climbing the 7 Summits will be over.  It will be extremely disappointing to say the least.  However, reinstating what I said above, my life and health is much more important to me…  It would certainly be hard to complete the remaining 7 Summits without my fingers or toes!  

Q: Living in St. Louis, the closest mountain is, well far away. How are you training?

I bought a treadmill that goes up to 40% incline.  I strap on a 60-lb backpack (filled with sand bags, water bottles and old anesthesia books) and walk on varying degrees.  When it gets hard, I imagine the wretched 800 feet of fixed lines on Denali (30-55% incline) and remind myself that Lhotse face is even steeper, longer and icier!  That usually keeps me going :). I combine this with running and strength training.  I also believe that at least 50% of climbing is mental attitude, so I try to push past extreme every time I train.  I know I will need it on Everest!

Q: You love salsa and Latin dancing, is this part of your training routine? 🙂

Haha, I certainly am a dancing fool!!  I used to use this ‘technique’ in the past but I tore some knee ligaments on Mt. Rainier last year.  I was lucky to be able to climb Denali (mind over body?) but I want to avoid unnecessary torquing of my knee while dancing.  It kinda bums me out, but rest assured, it will be the first thing I do my first free weekend after the climb!

Q: Last question, do you have a favorite piece of gear you use on all your climbs?

I take my Budweiser baseball hat to all my climbs for luck!  Also, although it doesn’t classify as gear, I don’t move anywhere without my Kindle 🙂

Q: Any other thoughts for us followers this year Gosia?

Just so you all keep your fingers crossed for my successful summit and a trip back!!  Thank you so so much to every single one of you who has supported me financially and/or spiritually 🙂

 Thanks for breaking away from your training for this interview and of luck! Gosia will be climbing with Alpine Ascents International from the south side. You can read more about Gosia on her website.

Climb On!
Alan
Memories are Everything