Epilogue

My mother and I have been working on polishing up my blog and she recommended I add some additional thoughts in the form of an Epilogue.

I’ve now been home for six weeks and feel it’s distant enough to reflect upon the entire experience.  Mom had just finished John Stockton’s book, Assisted, an Autobiography, and in one of his last chapters he makes an analogy to his own experience, using Mt. Everest.  In essence he says it would be a sterile accomplishment reaching the summit of Everest if one hadn’t enjoyed the journey along the way.  As most who followed Stockton and Malone over their years with the Utah Jazz know, they came ever so close to winning the NBA championship, but never did.  John goes on to say how much the journey and experiences meant to him, even without the coveted NBA ring.

I feel the same way and treasure my journey along the way to an attempt at the summit of Mt. Everest –  not only the experiences that occurred from Kathmandu to Camp 1 and back, but the training and preparation for almost an entire year before I left.

One day shortly after my return, in the wee hours of the morning, I was making my 30-minute drive to the gym near my office and I began reflecting on how much I had enjoyed this relaxing, stress-free commute early in the morning and the crazy workouts I’d done.  I remembered other things like skinning to the top of Snowbasin with Don and Judy, and how much I had enjoyed that.  A few of my friends and relatives realizing, like I, that the odds of a summit, especially on the first try, aren’t great had advised me to enjoy the journey.  And now I was realizing – I actually had!  It was and still is a great feeling.  I had always thought it wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t summit.  In some ways that is true.  I may never know what it feels like to experience the South Col, Hillary Step, or the summit, but now I know I’m happy and fulfilled without it.  And yes, I know and appreciate that I am alive when many are not.  However, I know many stories of great and wonderful people who have been unable, for one reason or another, to reach an important personal goal.  Interestingly, most of them seem just as happy as if they had.  Like one of my favorite adventurers, Squash Falconer, once said, “You’ve got to try, because you never know what you might achieve.”  She also said, “Take your love and passion wherever you go.”

I’ve told my story many times already, and I’ll bet you can’t guess which question I’ve been asked the most.  It’s not, “What did the earthquake feel like?”  or  “What did you think about when you thought you may be covered by an avalanche?” – it is “Are you going to go back?”

Some have said the earthquake robbed me of my dream and that I should consider going back.  Based on what I’ve just discussed, I don’t feel like I need to.  I’ve experienced every step vicariously through others, and I have even stood on the summit in my dreams.  It’s a big financial and time commitment, and there are many wonderful places in the world to visit.  But, that doesn’t mean I won’t give it one more try.  I’m considering multiple factors, and at this stage I’d say the odds are at best, 50-50.  Stay tuned.