Abandoning Everest - the result and future plans

Wow! Our little boy turns 2 today! How fast time flies. A short 2 years and 7 months ago, while attempting to scale Mount Everest, I found out my wife was pregnant with our first child. As a result, my head was no longer in "the game". Several days later I decided to put Everest aside and ensure I would be around for our child's birth. Climbing Everest is dangerous and I did not want to take any chances. The picture above is of Alexander, the result of why I decided to turn around and save Everest for another year, another try at the summit.

Fast forward to right now and the upcoming 2010 Mount Everest climbing season. The desire to scale the lofty heights of Everest still burns deep within me. After much prayer, talking with my wife, and the blessing from my employer, we have decided that 2010 is the perfect time to try and accomplish a goal set 13 years ago.

I have been training hard and as my 100 days 'til departure draws closer I am starting to train even harder. Training this go around is much different than in 2006/2007. This time I am not only focusing on physical training but I am focusing more on mental training as well. Being away from my family will be tough. My favorite Bible verse is Phillipians 4:13 which states that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I rest assured that complete reliance upon God will get me through the tough times - both physical and mental.

Another part of preparing for a Mount Everest expedition are the logistics necessary in order to accomplish such a feat. This time around I am relying on a climbing mate and friend - Phil Crampton. He owns Altitude Junkies and he provides all the logistics necessary for attempting a climb of Everest. Such things as permits, tents, stoves, food, ropes and much more are some of the things he will help provide. I will be responsible for my own personal climbing gear but providing the group gear is where Phil comes in. This will be an unguided climb as we are all competent climbers who have served an apprenticeship on lesser mountains around the world.

Even though I wish I were leaving tomorrow, it is probably best that I am not. There is still so much to do. Please follow along as I chronicle the events leading up to my attempt on Mount Everest in April and May of 2010. I will also be (with the help of my wife) posting "live" updates on this site during the climb so you can keep up to date as to where I am on the mountain. Although, the best coverage of the upcoming 2010 Mount Everest climbing season will be on Alan Arnette's website. He is, by far, the best at seeking out all of the Everest action and condensing it into an exciting format on his website. Go and take a look.

Until next time...

A Climber's Dream - revisited

It's amazing how fast time passes. Two years ago today I was on my way to climb Mount Everest. I had just crossed the Nepalese/Chinese border and everything seemed right on schedule.

That is, however, not the case with Everest north side teams today. The Chinese have placed restrictions upon foreigners from entering into their country. The forecast for gaining permission to enter China through Zhangmu is a bit uncertain. The agreed upon date to lift these restrictions is constantly being pushed back. The deadline will arrive and the Chinese will change their minds. This can be frustrating, demoralizing, and utterly devestating. These climbers have put many months of sweat and hard work into training for the mountain of their dreams; only to arrive in Nepal and find out that their climb has been postponed at best and canceled at worst. Wow! That would be hard to deal with. Their dreams may be shattered.

You see, for many a climber Mount Everest represents the pinnacle of climbing achievement. The privilege of standing upon the highest piece of real estate in the world is a feat that few have done. Yes, climbing Mount Everest has become more popular in recent years but the challenge remains the same. Past or present, yesterday or today, there will always be those who push themselves to the edge of endurance. That is part of the allure of climbing Mount Everest.

I often wonder if I have the endurance to climb Mount Everest. Physical endurance yes, with God's help. Mental endurance though, is a little harder for me. Therefore I now rely heavily upon my wife and son at home to cheer me on. This cheering section is what will help propel me up the Big E when my physical endurance is waning.

I have a lot to do if I am to climb Mount Everest in just under one year. Relational, spiritual, financial, professional, physical, and mental challenges all loom hauntingly in front of me. Will I make it? Can I do it? What lies ahead? Please follow along as the next year unfolds.

About this blog

Welcome to "A Climber's Dream". We all dream. We all dream differently. For 12 years now I have dreamed of climbing Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. God has blessed me in numerous ways throughout life and I have truly been able to travel, climb, and enjoy His creation ... from the top. Just not the top of Mount Everest.

I have been climbing now for almost 13 years and and I am grateful to say that I have tasted the bitterly cold air of 8,000 meters. On September 29, 2005 I stood on the summit of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world at 8,201 meters a.s.l. (26,907'). As I stood there gazing toward Mount Everest, just a mere 25 miles away, I couldn't help but wish I was standing "over there". I resolved that maybe now I had gained enough experience, through a 10 year climbing "apprenticeship", to someday scale to the lofty summit of Mount Everest. The dream persisted and partially came true in the pre-monsoon climbing season of 2007. I traveled to Tibet to scale Mount Everest, or Chomolungma as the Tibetans call her.

I am a Christian and I believe in the truth found within the Bible. I believe the Scriptures when in the book of Isaiah God said, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

You see, my thoughts were of Everest and my ways were of climbing as much and as often as I could. Many times to the detriment of several key relationships. One of those being my wife and her desire to start a family. Whilst on Everest I learned that my wife and I were no longer "just the two of us". We were quickly to be the three of us. My wife was pregnant with our first child and she was thrilled. Suddenly the Mount Everest climb became not as important and I could no longer focus on the task at hand. When scaling Chomolungma, she demands 110% committment. If, even for just a moment, your focus is not on the business of climbing, the icy cold slopes of the highest point on Earth may be your final resting place. Climbing Mount Everest in 2007 was not meant to be.

All of this brings me to the purpose of this blog. The desire to climb Mount Everest still lingers. With intensity! I am prayerfully considering returning to Mount Everest in the pre-monsoon season of 2010. This blog will chronicle the upcoming year. You will meet my wife Diana and our son Alexander. You will follow along as I train for the physical and mental demands of Mount Everest. You too will see the view from many mountain tops through my photographs. Perhaps this will lead you to dream and achieve what was formerly just a passing thought.