Ten years ago this month, I boarded a 747 to Nepal to start my two-month Everest expedition. Seeing posts from friends and colleagues who are just arriving now, has given me some pause to reflect on what happened then and [...]
Mitch Lewis Looking into the sky, What would I face? Would I only try? Or just try to keep pace? The icefall it rose, And tumbled and fell, As if in a pose, That looked all pell-mell. [...]
Almost ten years ago, I was fortunate enough to stand on the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, and even more fortunate to make it safely down. This, after running out of oxygen below the Hillary Step, (28,800’) in the [...]
What is absolutely indisputable is the critical role of the Sherpas in the Himalayas and certainly on Mt. Everest; starting with Tenzing Norgay and Hillary. The bond that the real Lakpa and I had on Everest continues to this day, [...]
Between 22,000′ and 26,000′ on Everest, I spent time thinking about the similarities of the mountain and leadership. When your own life and goal are in danger and success is not guaranteed, you have to both lead, manage yourself and [...]
One satellite phone, one iPhone, several iPods, two digital cameras, one HD video camera, and a Kindle all traveled to Mount Everest with me leveraging 3G, Internet and Wi-Fi networks, social media and photo sharing sites, several email accounts, voice-mail, [...]
It started in December 2005 when Karen Birnie gave me the book, “Into Thin Air” for Christmas. I was just finishing the seven continents (marathons) quest and the book captivated me for the possibility of Everest and the seven summits. [...]
I was on my hands and my knees at around 28,500′ and I couldn’t breathe. I looked at my Sherpa, Lakpa and motioned with my hands that I was suffocating. My oxygen was either turned off or the mask was [...]
