Mount Everest is still the ultimate adventure as the highest mountain in the world. In the post-modern world of myspace and paperless documents, climbing “Sagarmatha” (goddess of the sky to Nepalese) or “Chomolungma” (mother goddess of the universe to Tibetans) require the guts, hard work, timing, solid alpine skills, excellent physical condition, technical skill, equipment, and most of all, good judgement.
Towering at a gasping height of 29,028 feet above sea level, majestic in its rugged snow capped peak, Everest has not lost its grandeur and with numerous unsuccessful attempts over the century, Eric Shipton in his book “Upon That Mountain” asked the ultimate dilemna: “ Perhaps we had become arrogant with our fine new technique of ice-claw and rubber boots, our age of easy mechanical conquest. We had forgotten that the mountain still holds the master card, that it will grant success only in its own good time… no party is in a position to choose its day …”
With plastic bottled Oxygen, mask & regulator, theres still no shortcuts to Everest. As I immersed myself in co-expedition leader Art Valdez’s last email to me from Llasa, signing off that this will be his last email before the assault on May 11, 2007 by the three filipina climbers Carina Dayondon, Noelle Wenceslao and Janet Belarmino, all I can think deep is “much luck my friends and God-speed.” They will attempt not only to summit but to traverse from the North Col (China-Tibet) route and descend towards the opposite side, the more challenging Southeast Ridge, passing thru the Hillary Steps, the steep “Balcony” and down thru the Lhotse Face towards Nepal.
Jon Krakauer of Outside Magazine noted in his book “Into Thin Air” that if you pluck somebody from sea level and drop them at the peak of Everest without bottled oxygen and proper acclimatization, the thin air which is only one third of that from sea level will render that person brain dead in minutes and survival won’t be an option.
The culprit is AMS, Acute Mountain Sickness which can occur to climbers above 20,000 feet due to reduced air pressure, lower oxygen concentration and can affect the brain with swelling (brain edema), coma, pulmonary edema or shortness of breath, and or can cause fluid leak in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and impair sound judgement.
But as Art Valdez quoted (George Mallory, an English mountaineer), on his last visit to Los Angeles Consulate General last December 2006, “We climb Mt. Everest because it is there.” Going up the hard 5 deep breaths for every one step climb against strong gusts of wind, step by step on a fixed ladder, or vertical on a fixed rope, one step at a time along a precipice that can spell death with a wrong turn, frostbite gnawing at the toes and fingers, sunburned beyond recognition, snow blind against all odds, it is the human spirit that will prevail.
Technique and ability, nor equipment alone can get mountaineers to the top of the world. It is only sheer willpower that’s most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money or be given by others… it rises from one’s own heart. The three Pinays will not bring back silver or gold. Not a bit. No gem or diamond. What they will bring down from Mt. Everest is more precious. It is too precious that it is immeasurable. They will teach us that there is not shortcuts to success. Neither is it easy. Nor is it faster and with less effort. They will show us how to be brave and to dare to do things differently, and be open to new struggles, new heights we have never imagined. These brave defiant spirits of the three filipina mountaineers will build paths to guide us in this the always comfortable and distracted post modern world. They will steer us away from making compromises and adhere to the present, the truth. Ignoring the dire straits of our economic or political situation at the moment, the May 11, 2007 climb will mold us away from the despair and downward spiral of our cultural descent. Is it a coincidence that the assault on Mt. Everest is also Election time in the Philippines? I tend to disagree.
Kaya Ng Pinay is their battlecry. Quoting from UP’s commencement address from a 16 year old BS Physics summa cum laude (April 22, 2007), I quote: “ Do not just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not good enough. Instead, defy the pressure to lead a comfortable life in mediocrity ….take not the road less traveled. Rather, make new roads. Blaze new trails, Find new routes to your dreams. We are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, and we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance…come with me, and trample a new path.”
Kaya Ng Pinay. With the unbeatable Filipino spirit, once lighted within, the Philippines will be better one person at a time. Let it be true for our three climbers. Let it be true for me. My friends, let it always be true for you. Mabuhay Perlas ng Silanganan. (Long live, Pearl of the Orient .) Kaya ng Pilipinas.
(Jay Fermin ppp-usa is a freelance photographer, columnist and writer from Pasadena, and can be reached at www.xpressionsphotography.net)
Email :jayfermin@charter.net
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