Good Everest story for Moosmom and others...

[Catty1]

Donna, I don't know if your friend Michael has heard of this man, but he might find the story a bit refreshing...I don't think he has seen or heard of a lot of this where Everest is concerned. :)

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Previous stories: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/05/27/everest-rescue.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2006/06/02/ca-climber-rescue-20060602.html


Today's:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/05/23/cgy-everest-brash.html

Andrew's Blog: http://andrewbrash.com/

Calgary climber 'exhausted but very happy' to conquer Everest
Last Updated: Friday, May 23, 2008 | 11:59 AM MT
CBC News


http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/05/23/cgy-brash-everest.jpg
Andrew Brash reached the summit of Mount Everest on Friday. (Courtesy Andrew Brash)

A Calgary mountain climber who gave up his own previous attempt to scale Mount Everest in order to save an Australian man succeeded in reaching the peak Friday.

"I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but I am: at 7 a.m. this morning [local time], a small group of us summited Everest!" Andrew Brash wrote on his blog Friday, describing the peak as "cold and windy."

"It was a more difficult climb than I realized it would be, and climbing all night borders on desperate (we left camp at 9 p.m.)."

Brash, a high school teacher, was 200 metres from the top of the world's highest mountain in 2006 when he cut his trip short to rescue Australian climber Lincoln Hall, who had been left for dead suffering from altitude sickness.

Brash's team climbed all night to reach the peak. His wife, Jennifer, said he spent 45 minutes taking pictures and enjoying the view.

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/05/23/cgy-brash-summit.jpg
Brash's team climbed all night to reach the peak. His wife, Jennifer, said he spent 45 minutes taking pictures and enjoying the view. (Courtesy Andrew Brash)

Jennifer Brash, who spoke to her husband after the climb, told CBC News Brash is "exhausted but very happy."

She said she tracked her husband's progress on his blog Thursday night, which was early morning in Nepal, refreshing the page every couple of minutes as he got closer to the top. When she read that he had reached the peak, she celebrated with her family and friends.

Brash's wife said she was "so relieved" when she learned he reached the summit.

"I'm just so happy for him that he's reached his goal and is safe," Jennifer said. "He'll be a happy guy when he gets back."

She said her husband sounded "a little bit out of it" when she spoke to him, laughing as she explained that he mentioned retiring from climbing, gardening and ordering a truckload of topsoil.


http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2008/05/23/cgy-brash-celebration.jpg
Jennifer Brash and daughter Anna celebrate after learning Andrew Brash reached the summit.

She added that Brash planned to have a nap and breakfast before beginning the trip back down the mountain. He is expected to return to Calgary next week.

Nepalese officials said Friday that a record 75 climbers had reached the summit Thursday, breaking a record previously set in 2002, when 63 people reached the peak. Officials said that number could still increase.

The rocky spur on top of Everest is the highest point on the Earth's surface, 8,850 metres above sea level.

[moosmom]

I forwarded it to Mike and Carolyn. Lincoln Hall I've heard of. His book I've been trying to get my hands on but it's not yet available in the U.S.

Thanks for posting it!!

[Catty1]

I didn't realize Lincoln Hall had written a book.

I just wonder how many other climbers would stop 200 meters (yards) short of the summit to rescue a guy left for dead, knowing that meant they wouldn't summit Everest?

Am sure glad he made it this year, though! :)

[moosmom]

It happened to Dr. Nils Antazana who tried summitting with a fraud of a sherpa who misrepresented himself. It cost the doctor his life as his supposed "sherpa" Gustavo Lisi refused to help him. He actually stepped over Dr. Antazana as the doctor was grabbing onto Lisi's leg begging him to help him. Not only did Lisi NOT help him, knowing well that the doctor would die if he didn't. There was another climber, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, who lost 7 of his 10 fingers from frostbite on Everest. Lisi stole a camera Gonzalez had in his jacket. The camera had film in it that documented Gonzalez's summit. Lisi then went back to base camp and sent a picture (no face shown or evidence that it was Lisi, when it actually was Gonzalez) around the world with his supposed picture proving he sumitted the top of the world. It was actually Gonzalez's picture of him at the top.

Ya gotta read Mike's book. It'll shock the shorts off of you!!

[Catty1]

Hey Donna, I am not surprised that happens all the time on Everest...I have just read excerpts on Michael's site so far. Can you get me a price on an autographed copy? :-D

I could send him a CD!

[moosmom]

The book is $25 but you can get it cheaper on half.com or amazon.com and even e-bay. I can get it here for you and have him sign it then ship it to you if you'd like.

I got an email from Mike this morning about the article I emailed him. He said he had heard that he was going, but didn't realize he actually made it.