Adventure Journal: Everest 2002
Hello Adventurers,
Yes, the hype over Mt. Everest annoys many people. Why must some men and
women risk their lives and endure several days of misery to get to the top?
Why? Why? There are over a hundred unnamed mountains above 21,000 feet that
no one has ever climbed. Yet climbers still head straight for Everest. Why
is this?
Could it be that this mountain is a symbol? Nothing in the world is bigger
except the world itself. Mountains in general lure people. They are poetic.
Thought, emotion, and meaning are vivid in the rock. Climbing leads to new
vistas, new views, new realities one never knew existed before taking the
next step, before peering over the next ridge.
In about 300 BC Socrates reflected on what is called the Socratic Curve. Man
climbs a mountain, slowly slowly, until he finally reaches the top. Here he
rejoices in his accomplishment -- yet only to discover from his perch that
there are several more mountains to climb on the other side.
While trekking in Nepal I philosophize my way along the trail and through the
villages. My mind is in full swing, my body is working, sweating, breathing,
alive. My emotions are sharp, abrupt, distinct. I am in the present,
surrounded by the moment, at my very best! If I could share this feeling, I
would and I can and I do. I invite you to come with me to Nepal next spring.
You will see.
I was telling a friend about all the amazing things that have happened since
I started my little company two years ago. I was explaining that my next
trip to Nepal will be as part of an expedition on Everest (just to base camp
for me). I told my friend about the climber, Sean Swarner, who plans to
summit Everest in the spring 2002 with the help of Of Global Interest LLC.
My friend said, "If he's not blind or missing legs no one will pay
attention." Though he was joking, I was able to respond: "Well, as a matter
of fact, he has survived two rare forms of cancer, he's had Hodgkin's disease
and an Askin's tumor. He was given two weeks to live once and three months
another time. He is 26 years old, has been in remission for eight years and
is training in Colorado as we speak." Then I said, "He is determined to be
the first cancer patient survivor to climb Mt. Everest and is dedicated to
helping and inspiring cancer patients to do great things." Sean told me, "I
want to change the attitude toward cancer. It's about adventure and
adrenaline!"
An expedition is expensive. The government of Nepal charges the group about
$70,000 for a permit. For one climbing team about 250 porters (equivalent to
125 Yak) are needed to carry all the tents, gear, rope and food for two
months -- kerosene, camping stoves, pots and pans, oxygen bottles, toilet
tents, everything -- a major undertaking. All the equipment must be new,
only the best. Climbers must hire the MOST experienced climbing guides,
usually Sherpas, the local people of the region who were born at high
altitudes and have amazing lungs and skill in this terrain. This elite group
of guides have been to the summit of Everest maybe seven or eight times.
They are super human in my eyes. All in all, the price tag is big.
The book, INTO THIN AIR, and others written about Everest, question which
climbers should be on the mountain at all. Eric Weihenmayer, the blind
climber who summited last spring was criticized by others. "A blind man
should not be on the mountain," they said. "He puts other people in danger."
Eric responds, "Who are they to say? Perhaps this is a decision best left
for the mountain gods." (Outside Magazine, Dec. 2001, p.131)
Anyway, at some point, everything is controversial. Is Everest the ultimate
challenge for only a select few? It is, no doubt, risky. Those involved
assume the risk. Only about 50% who try, actually reach the top. No one
ever hears about the climbers who turn around and go home, nor do we hear
about the climbers who get to the top of Peak 5886, a mountain like many
others with a number for a name. On whichever side of the mountain you
stand, the fact remains, so well expressed by George Mallory in the 1930s,
people climb Everest "because it's there."
Sean has been working hard. He applied for funding from the Keep Walking
Fund, an affiliate of Johnnie Walker Whiskey. The fund was established to
help entrepreneurs start socially oriented businesses that help people. Sean
fits the profile well. His nonprofit CancerClimber Association is devoted to
helping and inspiring cancer patients, funding research and ultimately
finding a cure. And a bonus for Johnnie Walker: It is a tradition to drink
a shot of whiskey when one reaches the summit of any mountain!
A few months ago Sean wrote saying he was one of twelve finalists (!) for the
$500,000 that the Fund was giving away. A few weeks after that, he wrote
again to say that Johnnie Walker was flying him to New York City on September
9. It was an all-expense-paid trip for each of the finalists. Sean
explained that on September 11 there would be a gathering at the headquarters
in Manhattan where each of the finalists would give a five minute
presentation in front of the board of directors. That evening -- the winners
would be announced.
I woke up on September 11 thinking, "Tonight I will know if Sean has the
money." I proceeded to put on my wogging (walking and jogging) shoes and
headed out for a trek through the neighborhood. As I came past the garage
where a car mechanic works, I expected to hear the usual heavy metal music
blaring on the radio. The music was not blaring that day as I came down the
sidewalk. Instead, as I neared the big garage doors, I heard the rock and
roll radio announcer's voice. I heard panic: "The Pentagon is on fire!"
I stopped in my tracks. The mechanic in his green suit was nowhere to be
seen. There was NO traffic in the street. The world was mysteriously
beautiful, very sunny and all too quiet. Not even one bird chirped. I
hightailed it, dashing into a mad sprint -- all the way home. I wished I
could go faster! Faster! At home I turned on the TV. And you know the rest
of the story.
So Sean was somewhere in Manhattan. It was his big day. Where was Johnnie
Walker's headquarters? I scanned the internet hoping he would write.
Finally I couldn't wait any longer so I e-mailed his mom. Sean was okay. He
was in his hotel on Park Avenue when the world changed. Needless to say, the
big event scheduled for the finalists was canceled. Sean was soon back in
Colorado where he continues to train, climbing every mountain in his path.
Now the twelve finalists each had to create a five minute video to send to
New York. Thus, Sean had to wait. A month went by. Then another.
Just two weeks ago I was in New York City for the NYC marathon. My father
ran it for the 17th year in a row (!) and I cheered him on. The streets
uptown were their usual busy selves. Everyone came out to high-five the
runners. It was a beautiful day.
The day before, my father and I took the subway to Ground Zero. As we came
out of the tunnel, I immediately noticed a stillness in those city streets.
There was definite sadness in the breeze. The fire was still burning, and
the smell of burning rubber filled my lungs when the wind blew just right.
We knew we were close.
It was another beautiful afternoon, and my father and I walked clear around
where the Twin Towers used to stand. I have been to that neighborhood before
when the towers were an undeniable landmark. Now there was a big hole. I
thought there would be a pile but it was a sixteen acre crater. Two months
later and the trucks were still leaving the site, around the clock, every
five minutes, 24 hours a day. Each 18 wheeler was full to the max with more
and more debris. The workers were amazing. They were working hard. They
were taking care of business.
Fences and construction zones kept us about a block from the scene all the
way around. But down each street was a different view of the mess. The
buildings next to where the towers stood were missing windows. One was
shredded and exposed beams hung out over the street. The shops we passed had
hand-painted posters in the windows that said, "Welcome Back!" and "We're
Open!" Others had signs that said, "Coming soon. We'll be back!"
Every fence that kept us from the site was covered with posters, letters,
notes, messages, American flags, signatures, letters from around the world.
It made me cry. I wasn't the only one who was feeling bad. Everyone felt it
- equally.
On the west side of the disaster men wore hazmat suits. They were cleaning
out a building that faced the explosion. They unloaded computers from a
laundry bin on wheels into a truck full of hundreds more. The next truck was
overflowing with office furniture. Business would continue elsewhere. Along
a stone wall near Battery Park, hundreds - no thousands of teddy bears were
stacked with photos of the missing. There were poems, letters, notes.
We passed the area where the workers were eating lunch. It was warm outside.
The outdoor tables and loud music made me think of the Ann Arbor Art Fair.
I saw a few smiles here. The workers chatted over bowls of chilli.
I was glad I went to Ground Zero. After completely circling the horror, I
came away with a feeling of peace. The mess, the problem was being taken
care of. The nation was in good hands. I felt an amazing strength from
those workers. Life goes on. The panic situation replayed on TV a million
times was now finally put to rest in my mind. The people I saw had control
of the situation now. Everything would be okay. The wound would heal.
Then just a week ago Sean wrote: "Johnnie Walker awarded me the money! Not
what I asked for, but it's a start and it's a good one at that!" Hooray!!
Sean and I, and YOU maybe, are on our way to Nepal next spring for an
adventure of a lifetime. Sean says the recent events make him even more
determined. I have no doubt he will climb Everest, he will come home and he
will do great things for people with cancer. He is ready to go.
Sean will be a member of an expedition that is already being organized in
Nepal. The man leading this team, Wongchu Sherpa, was the lead Sherpa for
David Breashear's IMAX expedition in 1996 and the lead Sherpa for Göran
Kropp, the Swedish man who rode his bike from Sweden to Nepal, climbed
Everest and rode home. Sean will be in good hands.
Cabela's, the outdoor outfitting chain (one of which is located just off US
23 in Dundee, Michigan) is sponsoring Sean for this climb. Sean said, "It's
like Christmas. I have two huge down jackets in the closet and one full-body
down suit for summit day!"
Sean is climbing and YOU could be cheering him on and trekking to base camp
with him. I am organizing two Support Team Treks for this expedition. The
first group will trek to base camp with the climbers, stay a few nights and
trek back to Kathmandu. The second group will trek to base camp, stay a few
nights, hopefully at the same time Sean summits, and will trek back to
Kathmandu with the climbers. Each trip means about 27-28 days away from work
- but imagine the stories you'll tell.
Note: It is hard to coordinate with an expedition. The climbers will be on
their own schedule. Their estimated summit date is May 10, 2002. However,
they will have roughly 20 days to choose from. Everything must be exactly
perfect for success. The weather, the health and strength of the climbers,
acclimatization must be just right.
Here are the dates: Support Trek One leaves the US March 19, 2002, and
returns April 15. Support Trek Two leaves the US on April 24 and returns May
20. The climbers will spend up to 72 days and thousands of dollars. For
trekkers, $2,300 is a deal!
To learn more about Sean, his climb, the Summit List, and his nonprofit
association visit www.cancerclimber.org
. To learn more about Mt. Everest visit www.mnteverest.net. To learn about
joining the support team treks call or e-mail me.
Sincerely,
Heather O'Neal
Of Global Interest LLC
(734) 369-3107
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