The Stories Behind the Climbers: April 1, 2009 | National Geographic

yeah you know for Mountaineers I think

yeah you know for Mountaineers I think there’s always an allure to climbing

there’s always an allure to climbing

there’s always an allure to climbing Everest whether it’s the first time

Everest whether it’s the first time

Everest whether it’s the first time it’s the 11th time it’s the highest peak

it’s the 11th time it’s the highest peak

it’s the 11th time it’s the highest peak in the world it’s always gonna challenge

in the world it’s always gonna challenge

in the world it’s always gonna challenge us so you know why come to Everest the

us so you know why come to Everest the

us so you know why come to Everest the 11th time I was given this amazing

11th time I was given this amazing

11th time I was given this amazing opportunity to be a part of the first

opportunity to be a part of the first

opportunity to be a part of the first ascent team and I deliberated long and

ascent team and I deliberated long and

ascent team and I deliberated long and hard of why I should be here and I

hard of why I should be here and I

hard of why I should be here and I decided that the challenge was still

decided that the challenge was still

decided that the challenge was still there the intrigue being part of this

there the intrigue being part of this

there the intrigue being part of this team and I also decided that I wanted to

team and I also decided that I wanted to

team and I also decided that I wanted to try again without supplemental oxygen

try again without supplemental oxygen

try again without supplemental oxygen that rather fail without oxygen than

that rather fail without oxygen than

that rather fail without oxygen than succeed using oxygen it’s been 22 years

succeed using oxygen it’s been 22 years

succeed using oxygen it’s been 22 years since I’ve seen Everest from the south

since I’ve seen Everest from the south

since I’ve seen Everest from the south side hasn’t gotten any smaller I was

side hasn’t gotten any smaller I was

side hasn’t gotten any smaller I was here in 1987 didn’t make the summit

here in 1987 didn’t make the summit

here in 1987 didn’t make the summit doctor 27,000 feet this time I’m back

doctor 27,000 feet this time I’m back

doctor 27,000 feet this time I’m back for a little unfinished business but

for a little unfinished business but

for a little unfinished business but some things need to line up the route

some things need to line up the route

some things need to line up the route the weather my health I’m gonna give it

the weather my health I’m gonna give it

the weather my health I’m gonna give it everything I’ve got but I’m also gonna

everything I’ve got but I’m also gonna

everything I’ve got but I’m also gonna maintain a reasonable margin of safety

maintain a reasonable margin of safety

maintain a reasonable margin of safety the summit super important to me but

the summit super important to me but

the summit super important to me but even more important is getting back to

even more important is getting back to

even more important is getting back to my family I’m here as a first ascent

my family I’m here as a first ascent

my family I’m here as a first ascent team member last year I was fortunate

team member last year I was fortunate

team member last year I was fortunate enough to summit Mount Everest as a

enough to summit Mount Everest as a

enough to summit Mount Everest as a guide and it just solidified how much I

guide and it just solidified how much I

guide and it just solidified how much I loved high-altitude mountaineering it’s

loved high-altitude mountaineering it’s

loved high-altitude mountaineering it’s something I do professionally and I do

something I do professionally and I do

something I do professionally and I do it because of the camaraderie with the

it because of the camaraderie with the

it because of the camaraderie with the people the beautiful places you get to

people the beautiful places you get to

people the beautiful places you get to travel and focusing on a long-term goal

travel and focusing on a long-term goal

travel and focusing on a long-term goal and the challenge of doing that every

and the challenge of doing that every

and the challenge of doing that every single day this year I’ve decided that

single day this year I’ve decided that

single day this year I’ve decided that I’m gonna go for a bit of an extra

I’m gonna go for a bit of an extra

I’m gonna go for a bit of an extra challenge and I’m gonna attempt to climb

challenge and I’m gonna attempt to climb

challenge and I’m gonna attempt to climb without the use of supplemental oxygen

without the use of supplemental oxygen

without the use of supplemental oxygen I’m always asked why Everest or why this

I’m always asked why Everest or why this

I’m always asked why Everest or why this particular trip the reason is as much

particular trip the reason is as much

particular trip the reason is as much why I’ve chosen my whole life to work

why I’ve chosen my whole life to work

why I’ve chosen my whole life to work out in the mountains and to work with

out in the mountains and to work with

out in the mountains and to work with people and become a professional

people and become a professional

people and become a professional mountain guide Erica during guiding and

mountain guide Erica during guiding and

mountain guide Erica during guiding and we’ve worked together before we work

we’ve worked together before we work

we’ve worked together before we work together on Denali last year and in fact

together on Denali last year and in fact

together on Denali last year and in fact helping me to guide last summer on

helping me to guide last summer on

helping me to guide last summer on Denali was Seth waterfall and that’s

Denali was Seth waterfall and that’s

Denali was Seth waterfall and that’s gonna be helping me on this Mount

gonna be helping me on this Mount

gonna be helping me on this Mount Everest climb and together we’re gonna

Everest climb and together we’re gonna

Everest climb and together we’re gonna hope to get Erika as high as she

hope to get Erika as high as she

hope to get Erika as high as she deserves to go

deserves to go

deserves to go if I were to do this I would be the

if I were to do this I would be the

if I were to do this I would be the youngest American person to do this

youngest American person to do this

youngest American person to do this although that that’s not really why I’m

although that that’s not really why I’m

although that that’s not really why I’m here to acquire that title I’m just I’m

here to acquire that title I’m just I’m

here to acquire that title I’m just I’m here to climb with everyone else and try

here to climb with everyone else and try

here to climb with everyone else and try to make the effort as best possible and

to make the effort as best possible and

to make the effort as best possible and if for some reason I don’t make it on

if for some reason I don’t make it on

if for some reason I don’t make it on this trip then I have years ahead of me

this trip then I have years ahead of me

this trip then I have years ahead of me of climbing that I hope to continue

of climbing that I hope to continue

of climbing that I hope to continue maybe I’ll return someday I’m Seth

maybe I’ll return someday I’m Seth

maybe I’ll return someday I’m Seth Waterfall heading into Everest base camp

Waterfall heading into Everest base camp

Waterfall heading into Everest base camp to climb Mount Everest with the big guns

to climb Mount Everest with the big guns

to climb Mount Everest with the big guns Dave Hahn Pete Whittaker and ed Viesturs

Dave Hahn Pete Whittaker and ed Viesturs

Dave Hahn Pete Whittaker and ed Viesturs can’t imagine a better group to be here

can’t imagine a better group to be here

can’t imagine a better group to be here with on my first trip to the Himalayas

with on my first trip to the Himalayas

with on my first trip to the Himalayas as you can see walking in to not Everest

as you can see walking in to not Everest

as you can see walking in to not Everest one of the most beautiful walks in the

one of the most beautiful walks in the

one of the most beautiful walks in the world so it’s a I suppose you’d call it

world so it’s a I suppose you’d call it

world so it’s a I suppose you’d call it a fringe benefit but it’s a pretty nice

a fringe benefit but it’s a pretty nice

a fringe benefit but it’s a pretty nice one