Sa amin to summit is optional, to go down is mandatory. Importanteng makabalik ng buhay.”
Unlike other expeditions wherein a climber had 3 to 10 Sherpas (expedition guides), Leo and Pastour only had one for each. The catch was…
“Nung nag-a-acclimatize kami, over-confident na sa amin ang Sherpa namin. Iniiwanan na kami. Nasa camp 3 kami, ang Sherpa namin nasa base camp. Sabi namin, bakit iniwanan n’yo kami? Parang Sherpa na kami. Nagsama lang kami ng Sherpa during summit day. ”
One more thing we learned about was that even if one is physically and mentally competent to conquer Everest, Mother Nature really has her preference. The team was blessed with fair weather.
Pastour narrates, “nung naabot na namin ang camp 3, ang kalaban na lang talaga is yung weather kasi determinant talaga ang weather eh. Kasi kahit gaano ka kalakas, gaano kadami ang pera mo, ‘pag bad weather ka talaga, mahirap nang umakyat sa Everest. Dami nang expedition dun, limang beses nang umakyat ‘di pa rin naka-summit… naku ‘pag ayaw ka talaga ng bundok…. kailangang ligawan mo talaga ang bundok para sagutin ka.”
Speaking of wooing Everest, these climbers have high regard for the mountain.
Pastour declares, “dapat low profile lang talaga ang akyat mo. Dapat ‘wag kang magyabang. Karamihan yung mga astig ang mga namamatay dun eh. Totoo yun. Yung magagaling ba. Walang pinipili ang bundok na yan. Mt Everest is considered as mountain without mercy.”
Yet another startling revelation…
Pastour confesses, “yung ibang umaakyat ng bundok, nag-iinuman lang sa taas… Yung mga bagong tubong mountaineers ba… mga nagti-tripna akyat tayo inuman, dala ng chicks.”
With this, they certainly promote love and respect for the mountains.
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