Oldies on Everest

In 2003, on my 2nd attempt at Mt Everest, I met a Japanese man trying to break his own world record of the oldest man ever to climb to the highest point on earth.   His resilience was astounding!  A slow climber myself (the days climb can take me 80% longer than my team mates) I’d pass him on the route most days.  He always looked as though he was on his last legs and, being even slower than I am, I’d wonder if he’d ever make it to the next camp, never mind the top of Everest!    I couldn’t have been more wrong!
At that stage I’d been a mountaineer for 7yrs and should’ve given him a whole lot more credit.  The slower you climb at high altitude, the better you acclimatise.   Not only did he make it to camp each day but his exceptionally slow pace meant that his push for the top was perfectly timed to take advantage of the ever unpredictable weather window.   Retired school teacher, Katsukuke Yanagisawa, aged 71 summitted Everest that year  -  an honour which eluded our entire team as well as many other experienced international climbing teams in 2003!

Like so many others I thought his record would remain unchallenged so imagine the astonishment when a 76yr old Nepalese man beat that record on 25 May 2008 by summitting Everest and making it back down safely.
At the same time Sir Ranulph Fiennes, legendary explorer, was on Everest for the 2nd time attempting to summit.  On his 1st attempt he suffered a heart attack just 300 metres from the top and was incredibly fortunate to survive.  Now aged 64, his 2nd attempt was also thwarted by heart problems and vertigo and Sir Ranulph decided to abandon his goal.

In my opinion it is “Sagamartha” (Everest’s Nepalese name - meaning Mother Goddess of the Earth) that decides who will summit - and who will not.   Certainly young or old are equally at her tempestuous mercy.
I salute those who have had the determination to keep trying until they reach their goal.
I salute - even more – those who recognise that life is more valuable than a few minutes on that very small surface area called the summit and who have the courage to turn around.
I salute you, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, for choosing life.