March 4, 2008 - 10:33am — MountEverest2008
Guy vs. Really Big Mountain
Hi… my name is Jim Curtin.
First, let’s set some expectations. Unlike some of my fellow Everest climbers, I am not an elite athlete nor have I set any mountaineering records – and have no plans to for the time being. I will not be the fastest up Mount Everest and won't be attempting to climb Everest backwards.
Like a lot guys you’ll see around the neighborhood, I mow the lawn in the summer, rake the leaves in the fall and take my dog for a walk. Her name is Lucy. She’s an Australian shepherd mix rescued from the pound and comes with a great amount of spunk, a friendly attitude and an eagerness to be my training partner.
I also have an amazing wife who supports me in my pursuits like Everest.
I’ve been fortunate to have some nice work credentials under my belt that are the byproducts of hard work, good timing, and a bit of luck. It is largely because of this factor that I can set aside some time at the age of 36 to go for Everest.
Though the question remains: Can a regular, hard-working guy with a friendly dog and a great wife be a match for the mighty Everest?
Mount Everest is awesome in the true sense of the word. At 29,035 feet in elevation, Everest is the highest mountain in the world. I’ve heard multiple stories of climbers that will travel to Everest with intent to climb… only to arrive at base camp, look-up, and throw in the towel right then and there! This may sound strange for people paying north of $60K for a crack at it, but such a mountain can have this effect. The mountain has taken many lives, many frozen bodies are still on its slopes, and the top section referred to as the dead zone is appropriately named.
To date, the highest elevation I’ve been to is 23K ft - and that was pretty crazy. Pushing ourselves to the limit, we’d take five breaths as deeply we could, then take a baby step forward six inches. We’d repeated this hundreds of times. That may give you some idea of what effect altitude has on one’s body. Go another vertical mile up, that’s what I’ll be gunning for on Everest.
A guide I’ve travelled with described high altitude as being in outer space without a space ship.
That said, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me and I look forward to sharing the experience with you.