Did you have a good adventure?

Even though Lincoln had been left lying dead in the snow, now he was sitting up and said “I imagine you’re surprised to see me here..”

The first Australian ascent of Everest was 3rd October 1984. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting both Tim Macartney-Snape and Greg Mortimer whose tales of bravery, independence and adventure still have me enthralled. Lincoln Hall was also on that expedition, although he is better known for being left for dead near the summit of Everest on 25th May 2006 and found alive the next day. I didn’t get to meet Lincoln but I did spend some time trekking/climbing in Nepal with Dan Mazur who found him that morning and along with his team gave up their summit bit to assist Lincoln until his own Sherpa’s could take him down the mountain. I had read several of Lincoln’s books so I was familiar with the story but over a cup of sugary black tea one evening I managed to convince Dan to share his version of the narrative. Simple things become proportionally more difficult the higher you ascend to the point where taking a single step requires extreme concentration (and I’ve only been as high as Mera Peak 6475m) so I struggle to comprehend how one can control their brain enough to coordinate the rescue of a man who was suffering from cerebral edema and severe frostbite.

I can’t explain why I’m drawn the mountains and the stories that they create but there’s something about huddling in mess tent to answer the question, “Did you have a good adventure?”