Family
Climbing Mt. Everest

Everest Home |Climbing Home
Everest Pictures
Khumbu Trek | Everest 2002 | Everest 2003 | Everest 2008 | Everest 2011
Everest 2004 | Everest 2005 | Everest 2006 | Everest 2007 | Everest 2009 | Everest 2010 | Everest 2012 | Everest 2013 | Everest 2014| Everest 2015 |
Time & Money | Death | Family | Departing Thoughts | Hopes & Fears | Everest Training | 2006 Deaths
Everest for Kids | The Children of the Khumbu slideshow | South Col Route Map | North Ridge Route Map | Communications | Everest Base Camp
Everest FAQ | Khumbu Trek FAQ | Climbing 8000m FAQ
Weather | Guides
I made it back alive and in good shape from my 2002 attempt. So now I am going back in 2003. How do I tell ? My parents? How can I justify going back to the death zone? Your son, your daughter. They leave on a trip from which they may not return. What do you do, stop them? Change their mind?
2003
It was only days back from the 2002 climb. I was still hurting badly. The lung infection had not gone away. I was tired, very tired. I slept as much as I could but couldn't. Sitting on the floor, Ashley, and I spoke quietly about what had happened. They looked at me the way you look at a dying parent in the hospital.

I told them them whole story. Every detail. Every joy. Every hurt. We laughed together. Tears welled up in our eyes as I told them of summit night. Being alone. Vomiting. Gagging. Thinking of them. Wanting to go on and wanting to turn back. They understood like no others. And they never asked me if I wanted to go back. After an hour we stopped talking about Everest and didn't speak about the climb for days.

Several days later I went on a business trip. My expedition had broad coverage in my company so thousands of people knew about my journey. People approached me with excitement and curiosity. They asked "How was it?" "Was it hard?" And then, most everyone asked the question even stronger than "Why?":

"Will you go back?"

My public answer for six months was the same: "I'm not finished with this climb yet." And it was true. I was hurting, not physically, but in my mind I thought about summit night so often that I became worried that I was obsessed and needed professional help. But the more I replayed the events, the more I became comfortable with what had happened.

A month later, in a conversation with I said the obvious "I want to go back" She looked at me deeply and said "I'm glad"

With that I began my plan to return to Everest in 2003 or 2004 to finish what I had started in 2002. A visit with my parents had a similar outcome. mom asked me when and I said 2003. Neither my Mother nor Father were surprised. Probably the two most emotional moments were with my Brother and Ashley.

Summer 2002. Kenny came to visit and I showed him the digital pictures on my computer. He looked with an intense concentration I had rarely seen in him. After we finished he simply said "I had no idea how close you got and how difficult it was, I am glad you are going back."

Thanksgiving 2002. During the traditional turkey feast, Ashley spoke up about my plans to return. "I am so proud of you for wanting to go back. You are not going to give up. This is awesome!" With that my resolve was fixed. I was going back

I cannot emphasize the importance of family support in climbing big mountains. It is not optional, it is mandatory. I would not go back without the unanimous support of the my family. They provide the grounding and objective view for my adventures. I trust their judgment. I trust their confidence in my abilities. And I trust my own judgment in my own abilities. Together we make better decisions. I will always listen carefully to their advice and to their comments.

After all this is not about me, it is about us.

The 2002story:

"When were you going to tell ME?", asked with a smile on her face. "I didn't commit to climb Everest, I just asked Guy to add my name to the list." I weakly explained. With that, knew I was serious about climbing the highest mountain on Earth. I had mentioned it from time to time but never actually said I wanted to climb Everest. After all, I was not a professional. It took two months. It cost a whole lot of money. And, people die up there.

After a great Ama Dablam climb and some discussions with my Guide who had been on the Big Hill a few months earlier, I seriously began to consider it. But no commitments - not even to myself, much less to any of my Family. and I had spoken openly about Everest ever since Cho Oyu in 1998. I think that deep inside she knew I would try it one day. Maybe she, or I, was hoping that the day would never come. But we both share the same philosophy on life.

People would always ask me if I would climb it. My standard answer was "probably not, it is the big leagues and I started late in life." got the same question. As did my Brother and Parents. They probably said I never would.

My Parents are visiting and my Mother, in a Motherly way, asks the simple question. "What is your next mountain?" Never, never, never ever lie to your mother: "Everest", I said quietly glancing at for support and approval. It was out. Now mom and dad knew. My dad looked at me through his 82 year old eyes. It was a mix of pride, approval, envy and fear. Fear that his second son would not return. mom simply thanked me for telling them.

That was a milestone.

They had developed a bad habit of thinking every climb was my last. The stats: 172 deaths, 1415 summits since 1922. The best year for Everest was in 1993, when 129 reached the peak and eight died at the ratio of 16:1 and the worst year was in 1996 when 98 stepped on the peak and 15 died at the ratio of 6.5:1. I didn't mention that I had thoughts that went beyond Everest.

Funny, I was almost more nervous tell Paul, my local rock climbing partner, that I was off to Everest than my Parents. While Paul had never climbed these big mountains, he clearly understood the risks and what it took. Over breakfast, I broke the news. "Wow, that's great. When? Who are you going with?" and more questions. Not one comment on my ability or sanity. Thanks Paul!

When I finally told Ashley, the only question she asked was "When?". Kenny had a similar reaction but with more words.

What can I say about Family and mountaineering? I have heard from many guides about busted marriages caused by their obsession with "just one more". Is it an addiction? Is it a drug? Can you stop without ending your life? When is enough, enough?

"Put one bullet in the chamber. Put the revolver to your head. Pull the trigger. If you accept that proposition, you accept Everest." Beck Wethers on National Geographic Explorer's Savage Mountain television special. He had a stump for a left arm and a mass of flesh for a right hand. His nose has been grown on his forehead with tissue from his ears. and I watched it together. We neither spoke nor exchanged a glance during his interview.

How can a wife support her husband for such a risk? I simply cannot answer that question. I do not go to Everest with the intent nor desire to leave my body in a snow drift. I go only to do my best.

Saying good-bye to your spouse to go climb a mountain is nothing like sending your loved-one away to war. Perhaps similar risks. Maybe similar sad results. But one is out of duty and another is out of obligation.

Ignoring the call from within is denying your essence.

With a couple of weeks to go, a very private conversation between and I puts it all in perspective and peace - for both of us.

Thank you, my family, for your unquestioning support of my wildest dreams. Thank you for defending me to strangers. Thank you for you unlimited love - it will sustain me during the hard times.

Thank you for being you.

I love you all.

167)){ for (var i=1; i<= numofitems; i++){ var shutdiv =eval('menuitem'+i+'.thediv'); shutdiv.style.visibility='hidden'; } } } // -->