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Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
#14313 05/22/11 12:47 PM
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It is just amazing to think that one year ago today, as I type this post, I was at 27,000 ft and on my way to the top of the world! I still look back at it as if it were a dream, but I have the photos to prove it smile Today Larry and I summited Mt. Baldy to celebrate the anniversary; but unlike Everest, we stood on the summit together!

Still cannot post pics but here is the link to today's summit photo smile

http://reachingbeyondtheclouds.com/category/my-journey/

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14314 05/22/11 01:27 PM
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That is an amazing anniversary.Very few can claim that particular anniversary. Congratulations again.

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Rod #14315 05/22/11 01:34 PM
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Thanks Rod.

I didn't think I would feel anything special today but as each moment passes I remember where I was and what I was climbing. And that was some pretty wild climbing!

Just put some new pictures on my website's photo gallery. I will keep adding some as I relive that experience smile

Now I need to change the topic title - silly me - and I'm at sea level!

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14317 05/22/11 04:21 PM
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yeah, Cindy, I saw that title, but knew what you meant! I also know you think about Everest every day.

It is curious how quickly the brain forgets discomfort. If this were not so, I doubt if any sane man would return to Everest.
Frank Smythe, Camp Six, page 597

If you have not done so, read everything you can by Frank Smythe. He and Joe Tasker are my favorite two authors for description of dull brains at extreme altitude (and maybe even bringing some of that home?)

Harvey

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Harvey Lankford #14318 05/22/11 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted By: Harvey Lankford
It is curious how quickly the brain forgets discomfort. If this were not so, I doubt if any sane man would return to Everest.
Frank Smythe, Camp Six, page 597


....nor would any sane woman give birth again!


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14333 05/22/11 09:11 PM
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Happy anniversary Cindy! I get thrown for a loop on Whitney, can't imagine what double that must feel like. If I was you, I'd probably think about it everyday. Congrats on the summit (both cool)

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14341 05/23/11 03:08 AM
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Add my congrats on your impressive anniversary Cindy. That was an accomplishment few people in the world ever get to celebrate. Hope the leg is coming along well - you defintely have some pretty crappy luck, but your attitude more than makes up for it!

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Bulldog34 #14344 05/23/11 06:07 AM
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Harvey - thanks for the info. I had a long talk with Dr Peter Hackett when we were resting in Dingboche before our summit attempt. The MRI's of high-altitude climbers are --- different!

Bee - totally agree! Giving birth to my daughter was the only birth control I needed - that's why she is my only child. Bring on Everest over child birth!

2600F - Thanks and it was beyond wild! Did you go the my website and look at the summit-climb photos I posted last night?

Bulldog34 - Too funny, my husband calls me a train wreck! And according to the status as of June 2010, I was the 40th American female to summit Everest with 268 total females and 429 total Americans.

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14381 05/23/11 05:48 PM
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Cindy, my favorite here:
http://reachingbeyondtheclouds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Hillary-Step-MED.jpg

...but I can't believe you were smiling in the Khumbu Icefall. LOL! I saw a video of that area and it is muy scary!


Originally Posted By: Cindy Abbott


2600F - Thanks and it was beyond wild! Did you go the my website and look at the summit-climb photos I posted last night?


Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Anonymous1 #14401 05/24/11 01:37 PM
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2600f,

I love to ice climb so I did have a lot of fun, but your correct about the Icefall being scary! I could feel the ice moving under my feet! The most deaths on Everest have occurred in the Khumbu Icefall frown

And the most fun part of the whole climb was up the loose rock, ice face of the Geneva Spur at alomost 26,000 ft. I was so excited went I got to the top I was literally dancing in my crampons. Not a good thing to do!

FYI: My website host is moving to a new server so my stuff is a little wierd but should be fixed by tomorrow. When it is I'll post another crazy climbing picture smile

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14403 05/24/11 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted By: Cindy Abbott
I was the 40th American female to summit Everest with 268 total females and 429 total Americans.

Cindy, in 1988, Stacy Allison was the first American female. The reason I know is that my friend Bob Singer was basecamp doc that year. He died this spring at age 81. I'll be taking his obit with me to Whitney this August. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacy_Allison

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14414 05/24/11 07:05 PM
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Congratulations! Great memories of a great achievement. My friends from Big Bear summited last year on the 22nd as well, but from the North Col.

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
skicoach #14453 05/25/11 04:18 PM
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Not that I could ever do Everest especially now. I just could never see myself doing the Khumbu ice falls ever. Every time I have watched someone struggle over the ladders and ropes at the ice falls I cringe with fear of heights.

Last edited by Rod; 05/25/11 04:20 PM.
Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Rod #14479 05/26/11 06:57 AM
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Those ladders were crazy, all 40 of them! The trick was not to look down but my foot was so small it almost didn't fit between the rungs, so I looked but didn't see smile

Coming down the final time, after summiting, was really fun. One of the ladders at the top of the Icefall had fallen into the crevasse and we had to jump it!

Just posted by favorite Everest picture smile
http://reachingbeyondtheclouds.com/photo-gallery/

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14483 05/26/11 08:22 AM
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Here's that picture...



Congratulations again, Cindy!

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Steve C #14527 05/27/11 08:51 AM
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Thanks Steve - you're the man smile

Skicoach: What's your friend's name?

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14551 05/27/11 06:09 PM
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The whole Everest thing is just fascinating and amazing to me. I have read so many books and watched every documentary there is on the subject. I am in awe of all of you that have successfully acomplished what is probably the most difficult physical,mental and emotional activity there is.The ice falls just scare the bejeesus out of me.Can't imagine having already spent almost every ounce of mental and physical energy one has,running on fumes, and come back to the ice falls and see one of the ladders you were going to cross over on lying in a crevice. Then have to jump over the gap. Are you kidding me?Cindy you are one of my heros.

Last edited by Rod; 05/27/11 06:25 PM.
Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Rod #14568 05/28/11 06:37 AM
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Thanks Rod,

But I am currently no hero just a strong-minded individual who loves big mountains and the challenge that goes with them.

My 60-day Everest Experience was very difficult for all the reasons you mentioned and so many, many more. That's why I wrote my book. In it, I give a lot of details and personals experiences/feelings that are not in other Everest books.

I'm pretty tough, but when I read what I wrote, it makes me cry frown I actually relive it. Or, more accurately lived it while I wrote. When I was doing it (i.e., jumping that gap) you couldn't allow myself to feel - you are moving on survival instincts!

With luck, the book should be out the end of June.

BTW: Everest still fascinates me: She is a beautiful, deadly ever-changing challenge.

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
Cindy Abbott #14694 05/31/11 07:40 PM
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Hi. My friends who summited last year are Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren, and Paul's son Jordan (who I coached when he was younger). Another friend from France summited via the north col back in 2006.

Re: Today is my Mt. Everest Summit Anniversary!
skicoach #14700 06/01/11 05:41 AM
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Skicoach,

I met Jordan in the hotel lobby when we were all back in Kathmandu. He seems like a nice, normal young man smile


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