Richard looks back at Everest as 60th Anniversary approaches
Today marks two years since Richard summited Mount Everest during his 737 Challenge and as celebrations begin for Everest’s 60th Anniversary in just a few days time, Richard looks back on the day he stood on the world’s highest point and talks about why climbing Everest is still as magical as ever.
Take yourself back to being on the summit of Everest and your memories of being stood on the summit – what did you feel at that moment in time standing on the highest point on Earth?
Relief. There was lot riding on that summit within the 737 Challenge. Of all the summits there was more chance of me not getting to the summit than getting to the summit. So many things had to fall in to place at the right time to have just an attempt at the summit and to get that weather window was awesome. Although in my previous sporting life I am used to having to perform under pressure, on a big day or in a big game, that was taking it to a whole new level. So reaching the summit safely, my first feeling was just relief, after that it was just gratitude. It really was an incredible moment in my life. For me personally it was a very spiritual experience being up there.
On the summit with Sherpa Mingma
Given Everest’s commercial attraction and the large numbers of climbers on the mountain these days, in your opinion, why should people climb Everest and are people climbing it for the right reason?
Everybody who attempts the mountain will have his or her own personal and varied motives for attempting to climb it. I personally would like think that everybody would share my passion and respect for the Himalayas and the mountain itself but the reality is that isn’t the case. It’s just something that sadly is always going to be a part of such a wonderful mountain like Everest because you have no control over people’s motives. Everyone’s motives are individual. The responsibility lies in those people in charge of accessibility and I’m very proud to be associated with one of the most respected operators in the Himalayas in Jagged Globe.
Do you think that it is still one of the toughest challenges in the world - physically and mentally?
That’s a difficult question to answer – it depends on the person climbing and their capabilities. Every challenge is relative to the person who is attempting the challenge. Everybody has their own Everest, whoever they are. I still think the mountain itself conjures so much imagination and wonder…the idea of climbing something so big and dangerous will always captivate people’s imagination, I personally think that is wonderful. I hope that on it’s 60th Anniversary we don’t just celebrate two incredible people that climbed it but we remember how they inspired so many people to undertake their own Everest, whatever it may be.
Listen to Richard crying on the summit
Emotions ran high as Richard stood on Mount Everest 2 years ago. Listen to his phone call from the summit back home here.
A description of summit day
Listen to Richard’s review of his Everest summit day here, recorded shortly after he summited in 2011.
View all the pictures from Richard’s summit
Check out the picture galleries from Everest here.
