Summit and After

Posted on by bartw55

Summit Favorite

Before I share some of my thoughts of the summit day events, I want to thank Judy for all the updates. I just finished reading them and they accurately reflect my experience. The sat phone is a wonderful invention, but the satellites were not always directly overhead and connections were not always great. Good enough though, because I’m pleased with the outcome.

My Sherpa, Pk, had my point-and-shoot camera and took some great pictures, including the one above. He also used a borrowed Go Pro and promised to email videos later.

Of course, I cried as I crossed the beautiful Cornice Traverse between the South Summit and the summit itself, realizing I was about to accomplish my dream!  The other climbers I’ve talked with since said they did the same.  Confident in the fixed line and my safety attachment, I wasn’t terrified of the 7,000- to 8,000-foot drop on either side of the traverse. Instead, I was caught up in the beauty of the cornices and the backdrop of the almost windless blue sky and sunrise. A full moon added the perfect exclamation point!

Hillary Step
Bart at the Hillary Step

I had drawn on the thoughts and prayers and energy of family, friends, and acquaintances to help me up an unrelentingly steep mountain to the point where I could finally enjoy the beauty and breathe it in deeply.

I treasured the moment, though I knew it wouldn’t last long and would soon be a flicker in my memory – only captured by a few photos.

I had rehearsed a few things I would do as I summited. I kept the family flag in an outside pocket of my pack where Pk could easily reach it. That was the first thing we did. I got the picture. I had to have that picture!  I carried it with me constantly for two months.  My family was never far from my mind.

Next, I pulled a warm sat phone from a chest pocket of my summit suit and made the call I’d been dreaming of for weeks. I called Judy from the Top of the World!  It was hard to get the phone near my ear with all the paraphernalia on my head and even harder to speak through the oxygen mask. I tried to pull it away from my face a bit but didn’t dare take it off. I knew Judy would have family around because it was Sunday evening dinner time and I could hear them in the background cheering my effort. “I’m at the Top of the World,” I said over and over.  I said, “I love you all,” over and over. Knowing that getting down is the most dangerous part, I told them I needed to get down safely now and that I would call to confirm it when I got back down to the South Col, 3,000 feet below.

Pk was extremely impressed I made the call. I think he was suddenly proud to claim me. He called me “grandfather.”  I think the Sherpa have to have a ton of patience with us!  I doubt seriously whether I could have done it without him. He cleared my mask intake valve, which kept freezing, with his knife many times on the way up, and set up my rappel in key places all the way back to Camp 2 when I had no energy left.

Finally, before leaving the summit, I stood with my head several feet above the highest point on earth, and let out a triumphant yell!  I let go of all the emotions, both positive and negative, of the past two months, culminating in this beautiful moment.  I let them all go into the rarefied thin air and felt a profound feeling of accomplishment.

I returned safely through the Icefall one last time the next day. Pk and I arrived at Crampon Point absolutely exhausted – I, more than he, of course!  One of the porters from camp happened to meet us there with a chilled Coca Cola.  Unbelievable!!!!  It was exactly what I needed to make it the final 20 minutes to EBC.

I had intended to trek back to Lukla. It’s late spring in the lower villages and absolutely beautiful, and a great time to decompress and reflect. But, the remaining climbers had decided to helicopter directly to Kathmandu. They were looking for one more person to fill a seat and to bring the overall cost down, so I reluctantly consented.

So, here I am, at the Yak and Yeti hotel in Kathmandu. The gardens are beautiful and the air is thick with oxygen. I’m waiting for my flight home on the 30th, but hoping my travel agent will find something sooner. I still have the Khumbu Cough, and am 25 pounds lighter, but life is good.  I can’t wait to be reunited with family and friends!

37 thoughts on “Summit and After”

  1. I have tears of joy, fear, exhaustion, exhilaration, …. Just pure emotion for your accomplishment. Truely a super human feat. Glen would have been proud and jealous of you. Congratulations!

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  3. Way to go Bart!!!! It must feel great to accomplish your dream. I’m happy you were finally able to do it. You are proof that it is possible to accomplish whatever it is we want to do in this life. I’m going to have to come over to the Morgan Stanley office to visit and hear about your adventures. Maybe I will run into you and Judy hiking again this summer. 😊

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  4. Bart,
    If I’m not mistaken, that looks like a picture of you on Malan’s Peak!
    I can joke now that you are off the mountain and safe. Well done Sir Bart!

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    1. You two were instrumental in all of this for me. Thanks for being the great adventures you are and for leading the way. Can’t thank you enough!

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  5. Still crying tears of joy for you having achieved your dream. We are so happy for you. The thoughts and prayers for you have not gone unheard. Following every step of your remarkable journey has kept us excited (and a little anxious ) for two months and now we can hardly wait to see and be with you again soon. We are so grateful you have retuned to the bottom the beautiful Mt Everest safely. We love you, Mom & Dad

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  6. Bart!! That is like reading a good book! I can’t wait to hear about it in person. I’m not as great at describing my pride and awe but I am grateful to have been along on the journey via Internet (and annie). Congratulations to a man I’ve always admired and loved!!! You should be wearing a, “I summited mt Everest” t-shirt like new skin! Hugs!

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  7. Wow, Bart! You did it! I am so happy for you. What an amazing adventure you just had. The next time I am in Utah, I for sure want to see you and Judy . Have a good rest of the journey home, and I hope your reunion with your family is a great one.

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  8. loved hearing every minute of this journey! We are all so proud of you! I cant wait to hear more about it! Reading these words brought tears to my eyes – you have accomplished so much and followed your heart!

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  10. Congrats, Bart – I’m included in the group with tears just knowing how emotional finally being at the top of the world must have been! Way to Go!

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  12. Bart: awesome accomplishment! You carried your family & friends up & down the mountain with you. I was a little concerned to see your celebratory photo with a BYU symbol on something next to you. I soon realized someone had used Photoshop to blot out the beautiful red UofU in the photo, replacing it with the blue letters. Safe return.

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  13. You are my HERO! I am so proud of you. I have enjoyed going along with you on this blog. You and your family should be so proud. What a wonderful accomplishment. Travel safe and God Bless.

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  14. You will always be my hero dad. I can’t wait to see you. Thank you for being an amazing father and an incredible example.
    I love you so much!

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  17. Thankful you’re down Bart! How awesome is it, that you actually made it! Almost can’t believe that you really did it. Travel safe comming home. Looking forward to a possible great lunch chat again!

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  18. Bart, Jackie & I are so happy for you and Judy and the kids. What a great accomplishment!! We are so grateful you are safe too! We have been impressed at the many wonderful notes of support from your extended family and friends. I enjoyed very much reading your reflections just now. Hurry home!!

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  19. Bart, unbelievable. Thanks for sharing your epic adventure with the world. Thank goodness for Coke when you need it…. So, now what?? Mt. Olympus weekly??

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