Mount Everest (#128)
Mount Everest, in the Himalayan Mountain Range along the Chinese-Nepalese border, is the highest mountain in the world at 29,031 feet. There are two main climbing routes — one that approaches the summit from the southeast in Nepal (known as the "standard route") and the other from the Tibetan, or north side. Since 1953, 5,788 people have summited Everest, including 635 women.
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal were the first to summit the mountain on May 29, 1953. Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit on May 16, 1975. Kami Rita Sherpa from Nepal holds the men’s record with 24 summits. Lhakpa Sherpa from Nepal hold the women’s record with 9 summits.
Sir Edmund Hillary also reached the South Pole and the North Pole. Afterwards, he dedicated his life to helping improve the life of the Sherpas. In a word, Sir Edmund Hillary had grit. Here are five great quotes from Hillary:
“Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it.”
“In some ways I believe I epitomize the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed.”
“You don't have to be a hero to accomplish great things---to compete. You can just be an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.”
“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”
“I have been seriously afraid at times but have used my fear as a stimulating factor rather than allowing it to paralyze me. My abilities have not been outstanding, but I have had sufficient strength and determination to meet my challenges and have usually managed to succeed with them.”
Each spring, approximately 500 people attempt to climb Everest. Raymond Huey, Jane Ling-Want, Cody Carroll, and Richard Salisbury recently examined Everest summiting data for decades. They found that for the last decade, of the 500, 60% make it to the top. Unfortunately, 1% die in the attempt (which has been consistent for years). It costs the average climber between $45,000-$90,000 to climb the mountain. If you’d like to read their whole report please go here.
I have recommended it before, but Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakeur is a great place to start reading about climbing Mount Everest. The 2015 movie Everest depicts the same events.
Virtual Everest
Sir Edmund Hillary famously said “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” You may not be able to travel to Nepal, but there are a variety of virtual challenges that provide you a challenge to conquer while you also conquer yourself.
On the bike, Zwift offers a virtual Everest challenge — climb 29,031 feet all at once or over a series of rides to make it to the summit. I recently finished it over a series of rides and I can attest that it takes a lot of work, especially on the indoor trainer.
Others have taken it outside and climbed on the bike or ran 29,031 feet of elevation using their GPS watch or computer all at once or over a period of days to challenge themselves. EF Pro Cycling's Lachlan Morton holds the current record of seven hours, 29 minutes and 57 seconds for Everesting, which he set on June 20, 2020.
Whether the mountain itself, Sir Edmund Hillary, or virtual Everest inspires you, go on the offense, and find your Everest — that gritty challenge that you have to conquer while you develop yourself.