Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing at all. That’s how mountaineer Dave Hahn looked at it while waiting out periodic snow showers and cloud encroachment. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t time to venture up to the newly established Camp 3 at 23, 400 feet elevation either. It was simply time to wait.
So Hahn and his team occupied themselves during the snowy stand-down at Camp 2 or Advanced Base Camp (ABC) on Mt. Everest May 3, 2009. Sunday was scheduled as a rest day, so Hahn and his team whipped out their journals, I-pods, and picnic supplies to idle through the hours and recharge their human condition.
“I’ve long considered such skills to be the mark of a good expedition climber — the ability to do nothing, when nothing is what should be done,” Hahn said from the 21, 300 foot elevation of Camp 2. “For active (or hyperactive) Type-A climbers this requires an acceptance and a faith that there will be an abundance of physical abuse and over stimulated synapses, all in good time…like, say, tomorrow.”
The rest of the world following along on this climb, also wait to find out what Dave Hahn along with his team and Peter Whittaker are up to, as they reach for the summit of the Mt. Everest at its apex of 29,035 feet. Dave Hahn has summated Mt. Everest at least 10 times so far. This could be his 11th?
You can follow along with Dave and his team by reading his posts from Mt. Everest by visiting www.firstascent.com and click on the Blog tab. First Ascent is a new line of mountaineering equipment from Eddie Bauer, a traditionally legendary expedition outfitter long before they got into winter and spring fashion wear. We’ll be following up with the new First Ascent line of gear, and hopefully a visit with Dave Hahn in the near future.
By Rick Shandley
Better them than me up on a cold mountain. I hate the cold but admire the men that endure the conditions as they ascent to the top!
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting.
Dave Hahn, Ed and the rest of the team seem like they are well experienced with this sort of thing. But I think Everest is sort of a non big event anymore. It’s been conquered so many times and it seems like anyone with some money can go out and try it. Are we running out of unexplored territory?
Hi Gary,
Thank you for commenting. No, the list of unexplored destinations is not getting short.
There’s been tons of folks diminishing the value of the quest to be part of an expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest, K2, and a host of other high-elevation peaks. Its all been done many times with people who have money to burn, so what’s the point?
Yet, it still takes all of the mettle a man or woman has to reach those summits, and money can’t make it easy for any man or woman. Net worth will not overcome fear. A mountain such as Everest will take a male or female life regardless of the money he or she (or Daddy) paid to get the chance. He knows that; she knows that!
No, not any person with money can make it to the summit. If they are not ready, fit, and experienced, then…no they can’t try. The summit of Mt. Everest, for example, has been accomplished many times now, but never with a promise of safe return to the Phat City address in Malibu, CA. It’s real: each expedition is fraught with risk, including the loss of life for an individual or an entire team.
It’s not a big deal to arm-chair mountaineers, but its a huge deal to each person who takes their place on a climbing team. Put yourself into the discipline you’ll need to train, get experience, and be ready to climb this kind of climb.
Yes, it will take significant investment to afford the adventure. Paying for it is part of the challenge. It has to mean more to a person who dreams of standing on Mt. Everest; more than other things money buys. Because, even if money is no object, no person (Daddy) or family on earth want to lose their their loved ones to a mountain. It has to mean something more…just to get to base camp.
Best,
Rick