25th of April 2015 I was on a rest day on my Everest expedition we had spent
on my Everest expedition we had spent
on my Everest expedition we had spent almost a month trekking and hiking and
almost a month trekking and hiking and
almost a month trekking and hiking and climbing in the neighborhood around
climbing in the neighborhood around
climbing in the neighborhood around Everest adapting our bodies to the
Everest adapting our bodies to the
Everest adapting our bodies to the altitude and conditioning ourselves for
altitude and conditioning ourselves for
altitude and conditioning ourselves for a long month that lay ahead at midnight
a long month that lay ahead at midnight
a long month that lay ahead at midnight we had planned to climb through the
we had planned to climb through the
we had planned to climb through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp Warren then on to
Khumbu Icefall to Camp Warren then on to
Khumbu Icefall to Camp Warren then on to camp 2 for a few days and circled back
camp 2 for a few days and circled back
camp 2 for a few days and circled back to base camp on our first rotation of
to base camp on our first rotation of
to base camp on our first rotation of the mountain it will be another 25 days
the mountain it will be another 25 days
the mountain it will be another 25 days before we would see the summit but
before we would see the summit but
before we would see the summit but everything was going great
everything was going great
everything was going great everest was in fact the culmination of
everest was in fact the culmination of
everest was in fact the culmination of my 7 summits challenge to climb the
my 7 summits challenge to climb the
my 7 summits challenge to climb the highest peaks in all seven continents
highest peaks in all seven continents
highest peaks in all seven continents I’ve actually managed to complete six of
I’ve actually managed to complete six of
I’ve actually managed to complete six of them so this was the last one but it
them so this was the last one but it
them so this was the last one but it wasn’t my first time to Everest I’d been
wasn’t my first time to Everest I’d been
wasn’t my first time to Everest I’d been there the previous year and our
there the previous year and our
there the previous year and our expedition had ended abruptly when a
expedition had ended abruptly when a
expedition had ended abruptly when a massive avalanche tore down the Icefall
massive avalanche tore down the Icefall
massive avalanche tore down the Icefall and killed 16 Sherpa I was now back a
and killed 16 Sherpa I was now back a
and killed 16 Sherpa I was now back a year later hoping to finally finish that
year later hoping to finally finish that
year later hoping to finally finish that 7th summer the road to this point was
7th summer the road to this point was
7th summer the road to this point was really a decade-long journey to gain the
really a decade-long journey to gain the
really a decade-long journey to gain the skills and know-how necessary to have a
skills and know-how necessary to have a
skills and know-how necessary to have a shot at the big one and that journey
shot at the big one and that journey
shot at the big one and that journey took me from the top of Kilimanjaro in
took me from the top of Kilimanjaro in
took me from the top of Kilimanjaro in Africa to elbrus and Russia to Denali in
Africa to elbrus and Russia to Denali in
Africa to elbrus and Russia to Denali in Alaska to almost 7,000 meters on
Alaska to almost 7,000 meters on
Alaska to almost 7,000 meters on aconcagua in Argentina and to the
aconcagua in Argentina and to the
aconcagua in Argentina and to the amazing slopes of Vinson Massif in
amazing slopes of Vinson Massif in
amazing slopes of Vinson Massif in Antarctica yes Mountains in Antarctica
Antarctica yes Mountains in Antarctica
Antarctica yes Mountains in Antarctica it also included a lot of training
it also included a lot of training
it also included a lot of training climbs all over the world and I’d
climbs all over the world and I’d
climbs all over the world and I’d wrestled my fears to the ground over a
wrestled my fears to the ground over a
wrestled my fears to the ground over a decade of progressive effort but
decade of progressive effort but
decade of progressive effort but preparing for Everest is is very
preparing for Everest is is very
preparing for Everest is is very different the top of the mountain sits
different the top of the mountain sits
different the top of the mountain sits just above 29,000 feet and the whole
just above 29,000 feet and the whole
just above 29,000 feet and the whole last phase of your climb is in a zone
last phase of your climb is in a zone
last phase of your climb is in a zone where humans can’t adapt so you’re
where humans can’t adapt so you’re
where humans can’t adapt so you’re essentially dying so the whole climb
essentially dying so the whole climb
essentially dying so the whole climb becomes an effort to try and get up the
becomes an effort to try and get up the
becomes an effort to try and get up the mountain very very slowly so that you
mountain very very slowly so that you
mountain very very slowly so that you adapt find the perfect weather window to
adapt find the perfect weather window to
adapt find the perfect weather window to punched
punched
punched get up and get back down before you do
get up and get back down before you do
get up and get back down before you do any physiological damage to yourself and
any physiological damage to yourself and
any physiological damage to yourself and so I threw myself into very intense
so I threw myself into very intense
so I threw myself into very intense training over two years I moved into an
training over two years I moved into an
training over two years I moved into an altitude house to live I trained every
altitude house to live I trained every
altitude house to live I trained every muscle of movement I tested everything
muscle of movement I tested everything
muscle of movement I tested everything from crampons and the aluminium ladders
from crampons and the aluminium ladders
from crampons and the aluminium ladders true to my reactions and responsiveness
true to my reactions and responsiveness
true to my reactions and responsiveness after exhausting myself rolling in an
after exhausting myself rolling in an
after exhausting myself rolling in an altitude gym it’s it’s tough going
altitude gym it’s it’s tough going
altitude gym it’s it’s tough going trying to train for something like this
trying to train for something like this
trying to train for something like this but I felt I’d covered most of my bases
but I felt I’d covered most of my bases
but I felt I’d covered most of my bases and I’m an aerospace engineer so I like
and I’m an aerospace engineer so I like
and I’m an aerospace engineer so I like to plan and so I assess the mountain to
to plan and so I assess the mountain to
to plan and so I assess the mountain to look at the terrain from top to bottom
look at the terrain from top to bottom
look at the terrain from top to bottom I even analyzed fatalities to see where
I even analyzed fatalities to see where
I even analyzed fatalities to see where people got in trouble and why and I
people got in trouble and why and I
people got in trouble and why and I thought I’d covered most bases what had
thought I’d covered most bases what had
thought I’d covered most bases what had happened the previous year on the ice
happened the previous year on the ice
happened the previous year on the ice fall in 2014 had become the worst
fall in 2014 had become the worst
fall in 2014 had become the worst disaster in the history of Everest and
disaster in the history of Everest and
disaster in the history of Everest and it seemed the chances of another major
it seemed the chances of another major
it seemed the chances of another major disaster happening so soon again seemed
disaster happening so soon again seemed
disaster happening so soon again seemed statistically small but on that April
statistically small but on that April
statistically small but on that April morning on our rest day the ground
morning on our rest day the ground
morning on our rest day the ground started moving under me and everything
started moving under me and everything
started moving under me and everything was about to change
was about to change
was about to change now let’s go back in time for a moment
now let’s go back in time for a moment
now let’s go back in time for a moment because what was happening had its
because what was happening had its
because what was happening had its origins 50 million years before when the
origins 50 million years before when the
origins 50 million years before when the Indian tectonic plate smashed into the
Indian tectonic plate smashed into the
Indian tectonic plate smashed into the Eurasian Plate to create the Himalayas
Eurasian Plate to create the Himalayas
Eurasian Plate to create the Himalayas the Indian plate continues to move north
the Indian plate continues to move north
the Indian plate continues to move north a little bit every year causing pressure
a little bit every year causing pressure
a little bit every year causing pressure to build up and at 11:56 a.m. that
to build up and at 11:56 a.m. that
to build up and at 11:56 a.m. that morning some of that pressure released
morning some of that pressure released
morning some of that pressure released when a fault ruptured ten miles on the
when a fault ruptured ten miles on the
when a fault ruptured ten miles on the ground under our feet the power of 500
ground under our feet the power of 500
ground under our feet the power of 500 Hiroshima had just unleashed and it
Hiroshima had just unleashed and it
Hiroshima had just unleashed and it started with a gentle swaying then a
started with a gentle swaying then a
started with a gentle swaying then a more violent movement and it was
more violent movement and it was
more violent movement and it was accompanied by a very deep rumbling
accompanied by a very deep rumbling
accompanied by a very deep rumbling noise now we’re used to rumblings
noise now we’re used to rumblings
noise now we’re used to rumblings there’s not so little avalanches
there’s not so little avalanches
there’s not so little avalanches throughout the Everest season on various
throughout the Everest season on various
throughout the Everest season on various peaks but this was different
peaks but this was different
peaks but this was different and the entire Khumbu glacier on which
and the entire Khumbu glacier on which
and the entire Khumbu glacier on which base camp sits was on the move it was
base camp sits was on the move it was
base camp sits was on the move it was pretty difficult to realize and
pretty difficult to realize and
pretty difficult to realize and rationalize what was going on
rationalize what was going on
rationalize what was going on it sounded like an earthquake but it
it sounded like an earthquake but it
it sounded like an earthquake but it felt totally different and in that word
felt totally different and in that word
felt totally different and in that word that had never entered my planning a
that had never entered my planning a
that had never entered my planning a preparation even once earthquake we had
preparation even once earthquake we had
preparation even once earthquake we had been stood transfixed by the Icefall
been stood transfixed by the Icefall
been stood transfixed by the Icefall quite honestly for fear that it might
quite honestly for fear that it might
quite honestly for fear that it might collapse on top of us but behind this
collapse on top of us but behind this
collapse on top of us but behind this and many miles away a large amount of
and many miles away a large amount of
and many miles away a large amount of ice and snow had detached from on top of
ice and snow had detached from on top of
ice and snow had detached from on top of a different mountain smashed onto the
a different mountain smashed onto the
a different mountain smashed onto the plateau below and it triggered a shock
plateau below and it triggered a shock
plateau below and it triggered a shock wave which headed straight for base camp
wave which headed straight for base camp
wave which headed straight for base camp and it picked up everything in its path
and it picked up everything in its path
and it picked up everything in its path by the time we saw it it was almost on
by the time we saw it it was almost on
by the time we saw it it was almost on top of us our confusion had now given
top of us our confusion had now given
top of us our confusion had now given way to panic I had been doing some
way to panic I had been doing some
way to panic I had been doing some recording with my camera when the quake
recording with my camera when the quake
recording with my camera when the quake hit and I swung the camera around just
hit and I swung the camera around just
hit and I swung the camera around just as I was about to wrong to capture what
as I was about to wrong to capture what
as I was about to wrong to capture what was coming at us our nearest refuge our
was coming at us our nearest refuge our
was coming at us our nearest refuge our safety was our mess tent so we jumped
safety was our mess tent so we jumped
safety was our mess tent so we jumped inside we got under the table and we
inside we got under the table and we
inside we got under the table and we zipped the door show in retrospect it
zipped the door show in retrospect it
zipped the door show in retrospect it wasn’t the greatest plan in the world
wasn’t the greatest plan in the world
wasn’t the greatest plan in the world because there we were crouched inside a
because there we were crouched inside a
because there we were crouched inside a plastic bag underneath some plastic
plastic bag underneath some plastic
plastic bag underneath some plastic garden furniture in the middle of our
garden furniture in the middle of our
garden furniture in the middle of our Everest expedition in the middle of one
Everest expedition in the middle of one
Everest expedition in the middle of one of the biggest earthquakes the country’s
of the biggest earthquakes the country’s
of the biggest earthquakes the country’s ever seen with an avalanche about to
ever seen with an avalanche about to
ever seen with an avalanche about to slam into us so pretty fair to say that
slam into us so pretty fair to say that
slam into us so pretty fair to say that it wasn’t exactly going to plan and
it wasn’t exactly going to plan and
it wasn’t exactly going to plan and that’s in the next stage of fear kicks
that’s in the next stage of fear kicks
that’s in the next stage of fear kicks in waiting for impact when you know
in waiting for impact when you know
in waiting for impact when you know something bad is going to happen you try
something bad is going to happen you try
something bad is going to happen you try and guard yourself against it you make a
and guard yourself against it you make a
and guard yourself against it you make a decision to do something and once that
decision to do something and once that
decision to do something and once that decision is made you’re left alone with
decision is made you’re left alone with
decision is made you’re left alone with your imagination and for a small cohort
your imagination and for a small cohort
your imagination and for a small cohort of base camp that imagination was a bit
of base camp that imagination was a bit
of base camp that imagination was a bit more vivid because we’d witnessed the
more vivid because we’d witnessed the
more vivid because we’d witnessed the aftermath of the avalanche and the
aftermath of the avalanche and the
aftermath of the avalanche and the Icefall in 2014 we’d heard the reports
Icefall in 2014 we’d heard the reports
Icefall in 2014 we’d heard the reports from the scene we saw the effect an
from the scene we saw the effect an
from the scene we saw the effect an impact that had on the Sherpa and the
impact that had on the Sherpa and the
impact that had on the Sherpa and the wider community it was very very real
wider community it was very very real
wider community it was very very real some of the Sherpa have never been found
some of the Sherpa have never been found
some of the Sherpa have never been found and it was hard not to think about that
and it was hard not to think about that
and it was hard not to think about that as the avalanche rumbled towards us I
as the avalanche rumbled towards us I
as the avalanche rumbled towards us I could hear some praying on the other
could hear some praying on the other
could hear some praying on the other side of the tent and as the noise got
side of the tent and as the noise got
side of the tent and as the noise got louder and louder the tent started to
louder and louder the tent started to
louder and louder the tent started to shake violently
shake violently
shake violently it seemed to last for an eternity but in
it seemed to last for an eternity but in
it seemed to last for an eternity but in reality after a couple of minutes it had
reality after a couple of minutes it had
reality after a couple of minutes it had all died down the shockwave had lost
all died down the shockwave had lost
all died down the shockwave had lost most of its energy by the time it
most of its energy by the time it
most of its energy by the time it reached us we got lucky
reached us we got lucky
reached us we got lucky it took a few minutes for radios to
it took a few minutes for radios to
it took a few minutes for radios to start crackling and we realized people
start crackling and we realized people
start crackling and we realized people were in trouble we knew there was a lot
were in trouble we knew there was a lot
were in trouble we knew there was a lot of teams up at Camp one and count two
of teams up at Camp one and count two
of teams up at Camp one and count two who have already started their rotation
who have already started their rotation
who have already started their rotation and my first thought was the problem
and my first thought was the problem
and my first thought was the problem must be up high because Camborne is a
must be up high because Camborne is a
must be up high because Camborne is a known avalanche risk and count two sits
known avalanche risk and count two sits
known avalanche risk and count two sits at the end of the western poem which is
at the end of the western poem which is
at the end of the western poem which is riddled with crevasses but as we
riddled with crevasses but as we
riddled with crevasses but as we ventured out into base camp we very
ventured out into base camp we very
ventured out into base camp we very quickly realized the chaos was in our
quickly realized the chaos was in our
quickly realized the chaos was in our own backyard initially we saw some
own backyard initially we saw some
own backyard initially we saw some climbing gear and and some sleeping bags
climbing gear and and some sleeping bags
climbing gear and and some sleeping bags strewn about the place then entire tents
strewn about the place then entire tents
strewn about the place then entire tents torn to shreds debris our camps had once
torn to shreds debris our camps had once
torn to shreds debris our camps had once been the shockwave had effectively
been the shockwave had effectively
been the shockwave had effectively obliterated the whole middle of base
obliterated the whole middle of base
obliterated the whole middle of base camp incredibly the medical tent at the
camp incredibly the medical tent at the
camp incredibly the medical tent at the centre had survived and when we reached
centre had survived and when we reached
centre had survived and when we reached it the medical team were in full flow
it the medical team were in full flow
it the medical team were in full flow you didn’t have to look very far around
you didn’t have to look very far around
you didn’t have to look very far around you to realize how serious things that
you to realize how serious things that
you to realize how serious things that gotten so trying to hide our fear we
gotten so trying to hide our fear we
gotten so trying to hide our fear we walked up to the doctor and simply said
walked up to the doctor and simply said
walked up to the doctor and simply said what do you need and along with a lot of
what do you need and along with a lot of
what do you need and along with a lot of other people we spent that day carrying
other people we spent that day carrying
other people we spent that day carrying badly injured people across the rough
badly injured people across the rough
badly injured people across the rough terrain a base camp to the entrance on
terrain a base camp to the entrance on
terrain a base camp to the entrance on the far side because if there was going
the far side because if there was going
the far side because if there was going to be any evacuation that’s where it
to be any evacuation that’s where it
to be any evacuation that’s where it would happen and so carrying people
would happen and so carrying people
would happen and so carrying people across base camp at altitude is easier
across base camp at altitude is easier
across base camp at altitude is easier said than done it’s quite exhausting the
said than done it’s quite exhausting the
said than done it’s quite exhausting the terrain is very difficult and the
terrain is very difficult and the
terrain is very difficult and the visibility was very very poor by now a
visibility was very very poor by now a
visibility was very very poor by now a kind of a triage system had been set up
kind of a triage system had been set up
kind of a triage system had been set up a base camp where the walking wounded
a base camp where the walking wounded
a base camp where the walking wounded would go to one camp and the seriously
would go to one camp and the seriously
would go to one camp and the seriously injured had to be carried to a different
injured had to be carried to a different
injured had to be carried to a different one and expedition leaders were standing
one and expedition leaders were standing
one and expedition leaders were standing on rocks along the way kind of trying to
on rocks along the way kind of trying to
on rocks along the way kind of trying to direct the flow of traffic communicating
direct the flow of traffic communicating
direct the flow of traffic communicating about the casualties back to the tents
about the casualties back to the tents
about the casualties back to the tents and some of the bigger tents and the
and some of the bigger tents and the
and some of the bigger tents and the entrance to base camp had effectively
entrance to base camp had effectively
entrance to base camp had effectively now become a treatment center and as the
now become a treatment center and as the
now become a treatment center and as the day wore on you start to become very
day wore on you start to become very
day wore on you start to become very aware of what is action
aware of what is action
aware of what is action happened 19 people were dead more than
happened 19 people were dead more than
happened 19 people were dead more than 60 people were injured some very very
60 people were injured some very very
60 people were injured some very very seriously and a lot of people were stuck
seriously and a lot of people were stuck
seriously and a lot of people were stuck between camp walnut camp – absolutely
between camp walnut camp – absolutely
between camp walnut camp – absolutely terrorized I called home on the satphone
terrorized I called home on the satphone
terrorized I called home on the satphone just to let my family know that I was
just to let my family know that I was
just to let my family know that I was okay but the communications generally
okay but the communications generally
okay but the communications generally were poor we were hearing rumors about a
were poor we were hearing rumors about a
were poor we were hearing rumors about a bigger earthquake on the way but what
bigger earthquake on the way but what
bigger earthquake on the way but what was clear was that the visibility was
was clear was that the visibility was
was clear was that the visibility was too poor for the helicopters to reach us
too poor for the helicopters to reach us
too poor for the helicopters to reach us so evacuation was at least a day away by
so evacuation was at least a day away by
so evacuation was at least a day away by nightfall all of the wounded had been
nightfall all of the wounded had been
nightfall all of the wounded had been transferred across to the entrance of
transferred across to the entrance of
transferred across to the entrance of camp and were being treated by a mixture
camp and were being treated by a mixture
camp and were being treated by a mixture of medics and climbers with medical
of medics and climbers with medical
of medics and climbers with medical background we regrouped with our Sherpa
background we regrouped with our Sherpa
background we regrouped with our Sherpa and with our team to try and figure out
and with our team to try and figure out
and with our team to try and figure out how to deal with the night ahead and
how to deal with the night ahead and
how to deal with the night ahead and what came after the instruction was
what came after the instruction was
what came after the instruction was simple sleep with your helmet on and
simple sleep with your helmet on and
simple sleep with your helmet on and your boots on if you hear anything or
your boots on if you hear anything or
your boots on if you hear anything or feel anything during the night get out
feel anything during the night get out
feel anything during the night get out of your tent stay low
of your tent stay low
of your tent stay low try and figure out what direction it’s
try and figure out what direction it’s
try and figure out what direction it’s coming from and take cover next morning
coming from and take cover next morning
coming from and take cover next morning I crossed to the other side of base camp
I crossed to the other side of base camp
I crossed to the other side of base camp to try and make myself useful and by the
to try and make myself useful and by the
to try and make myself useful and by the time I got across there the evacuations
time I got across there the evacuations
time I got across there the evacuations had already started to begin the
had already started to begin the
had already started to begin the helicopter had landed and the seriously
helicopter had landed and the seriously
helicopter had landed and the seriously wounded were being ferried down to
wounded were being ferried down to
wounded were being ferried down to Kathmandu for treatment the weather had
Kathmandu for treatment the weather had
Kathmandu for treatment the weather had played ball and it was a very tangible
played ball and it was a very tangible
played ball and it was a very tangible sense of relief especially among the
sense of relief especially among the
sense of relief especially among the medics and the folks who had spent the
medics and the folks who had spent the
medics and the folks who had spent the night treating the very seriously
night treating the very seriously
night treating the very seriously injured I just got back to my tent later
injured I just got back to my tent later
injured I just got back to my tent later that morning when I felt movement again
that morning when I felt movement again
that morning when I felt movement again it was the aftershock we knew it was
it was the aftershock we knew it was
it was the aftershock we knew it was coming
coming
coming and let’s face that we had a day of
and let’s face that we had a day of
and let’s face that we had a day of experience to contemplate what of my
experience to contemplate what of my
experience to contemplate what of my brain it didn’t last very long but it
brain it didn’t last very long but it
brain it didn’t last very long but it injected fresh terror into the muscle
injected fresh terror into the muscle
injected fresh terror into the muscle memory some of which exists to this day
memory some of which exists to this day
memory some of which exists to this day as morning gave way to afternoon the
as morning gave way to afternoon the
as morning gave way to afternoon the helicopters changed direction and headed
helicopters changed direction and headed
helicopters changed direction and headed up the mountain we had a lot of climbers
up the mountain we had a lot of climbers
up the mountain we had a lot of climbers stranded between Camborne and camp to
stranded between Camborne and camp to
stranded between Camborne and camp to the route between camp 1 and base camp
the route between camp 1 and base camp
the route between camp 1 and base camp is across huge crevasses some of which
is across huge crevasses some of which
is across huge crevasses some of which are straddled with aluminium ladders the
are straddled with aluminium ladders the
are straddled with aluminium ladders the earthquake had made that route
earthquake had made that route
earthquake had made that route possible we didn’t know when the next
possible we didn’t know when the next
possible we didn’t know when the next jolt was coming or how big it might be
jolt was coming or how big it might be
jolt was coming or how big it might be so those folks needed to be got out of
so those folks needed to be got out of
so those folks needed to be got out of there and fast
there and fast
there and fast the brave pilots punched through the
the brave pilots punched through the
the brave pilots punched through the clouds all afternoon repatriating
clouds all afternoon repatriating
clouds all afternoon repatriating climbers and Sherpa with their very
climbers and Sherpa with their very
climbers and Sherpa with their very changed base camp and it was a great
changed base camp and it was a great
changed base camp and it was a great relief to see all friends and to see
relief to see all friends and to see
relief to see all friends and to see that they were well and alive they were
that they were well and alive they were
that they were well and alive they were all happy to be back at base camp but
all happy to be back at base camp but
all happy to be back at base camp but struggling to deal with what they were
struggling to deal with what they were
struggling to deal with what they were seeing in their new environment I saw
seeing in their new environment I saw
seeing in their new environment I saw some folks standing in the rooms of what
some folks standing in the rooms of what
some folks standing in the rooms of what had been their camp probably
had been their camp probably
had been their camp probably contemplating what would have happened
contemplating what would have happened
contemplating what would have happened that their schedule was a day this way
that their schedule was a day this way
that their schedule was a day this way or a day that way next day we decided to
or a day that way next day we decided to
or a day that way next day we decided to trek out of base camp and spend about 10
trek out of base camp and spend about 10
trek out of base camp and spend about 10 hours trekking down to a village to
hours trekking down to a village to
hours trekking down to a village to regroup and replan we got our first
regroup and replan we got our first
regroup and replan we got our first glimpses to the TV and damage across
glimpses to the TV and damage across
glimpses to the TV and damage across Nepal and we were very acutely aware
Nepal and we were very acutely aware
Nepal and we were very acutely aware that our Sherpa needed to get home over
that our Sherpa needed to get home over
that our Sherpa needed to get home over the following couple of days we
the following couple of days we
the following couple of days we meandered down one of the busiest
meandered down one of the busiest
meandered down one of the busiest trekking routes in the world completely
trekking routes in the world completely
trekking routes in the world completely alone and at lukla we managed to get a
alone and at lukla we managed to get a
alone and at lukla we managed to get a ride down to Kathmandu and get it look
ride down to Kathmandu and get it look
ride down to Kathmandu and get it look at the first damage there as well I
at the first damage there as well I
at the first damage there as well I stayed on in Kathmandu for a while doing
stayed on in Kathmandu for a while doing
stayed on in Kathmandu for a while doing some relief work and some of the badly
some relief work and some of the badly
some relief work and some of the badly hit villages it was a it was an absolute
hit villages it was a it was an absolute
hit villages it was a it was an absolute drop in the ocean compared to what was
drop in the ocean compared to what was
drop in the ocean compared to what was needed but it helped shine a spotlight
needed but it helped shine a spotlight
needed but it helped shine a spotlight on a rebuilding process it’s going to be
on a rebuilding process it’s going to be
on a rebuilding process it’s going to be going on for a very long time to come so
going on for a very long time to come so
going on for a very long time to come so I didn’t get to climb Everest and I
I didn’t get to climb Everest and I
I didn’t get to climb Everest and I haven’t completed that seven so much
haven’t completed that seven so much
haven’t completed that seven so much yeah
yeah
yeah climbing mountains is a very strange
climbing mountains is a very strange
climbing mountains is a very strange pursuit it’s it’s full of paradoxes it’s
pursuit it’s it’s full of paradoxes it’s
pursuit it’s it’s full of paradoxes it’s fantastic fun but it’s also deadly
fantastic fun but it’s also deadly
fantastic fun but it’s also deadly serious I experienced the close-knit
serious I experienced the close-knit
serious I experienced the close-knit community suffers some terrible trauma
community suffers some terrible trauma
community suffers some terrible trauma on Everest in 2014 and 2015 but I also
on Everest in 2014 and 2015 but I also
on Everest in 2014 and 2015 but I also saw people exhibit some incredible
saw people exhibit some incredible
saw people exhibit some incredible courage and calm under extreme pressure
courage and calm under extreme pressure
courage and calm under extreme pressure mountaineering like a lot of things in
mountaineering like a lot of things in
mountaineering like a lot of things in life is a balance of perceived risk
life is a balance of perceived risk
life is a balance of perceived risk versus real danger and wandering into
versus real danger and wandering into
versus real danger and wandering into extreme altitude is danger
extreme altitude is danger
extreme altitude is danger and irrational but the human condition
and irrational but the human condition
and irrational but the human condition is not always rational and risk is
is not always rational and risk is
is not always rational and risk is essential in fostering a sense of
essential in fostering a sense of
essential in fostering a sense of adventure
adventure
adventure and curiosity but with risk comes fear
and curiosity but with risk comes fear
and curiosity but with risk comes fear and one of the best ways to combat fear
and one of the best ways to combat fear
and one of the best ways to combat fear in the mountain is to be prepared for
in the mountain is to be prepared for
in the mountain is to be prepared for the expected and armed for the
the expected and armed for the
the expected and armed for the unexpected
unexpected
unexpected in 1953 hillary and tenzing set up their
in 1953 hillary and tenzing set up their
in 1953 hillary and tenzing set up their camps some slopes that nobody had ever
camps some slopes that nobody had ever
camps some slopes that nobody had ever stood on before not knowing if the
stood on before not knowing if the
stood on before not knowing if the entire ground would disappear under them
entire ground would disappear under them
entire ground would disappear under them in the night the men and women of base
in the night the men and women of base
in the night the men and women of base camp in 2015 swapped one mission for a
camp in 2015 swapped one mission for a
camp in 2015 swapped one mission for a very very different one not knowing if
very very different one not knowing if
very very different one not knowing if things would get better or much much
things would get better or much much
things would get better or much much worse we’re all fearful sometimes you
worse we’re all fearful sometimes you
worse we’re all fearful sometimes you cannot be brave or courageous without
cannot be brave or courageous without
cannot be brave or courageous without fear and it’s important to remember that
fear and it’s important to remember that
fear and it’s important to remember that going beyond your fear does not mean
going beyond your fear does not mean
going beyond your fear does not mean being fearless sometimes it means being
being fearless sometimes it means being
being fearless sometimes it means being dogged being determined and be prepared
dogged being determined and be prepared
dogged being determined and be prepared to take on your fears and to challenge
to take on your fears and to challenge
to take on your fears and to challenge the unexpected thank you
”
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