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Caption: EVEREST a new perspective
by Emily Harrington
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Caption: I climbed Everest in 2012. It was an entirely new arena for me. I had no idea what to expect.
Caption: Growing up as a climber,
I had heard criticisms.
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Caption: "It's not for real climbers. It's just a walk up a hill with hundreds of others."
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Caption: But I had an amazing team of athletes to experience it with and didn't want to pass up the opportunity due to some preconceived opinions.
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Caption: No matter what, I knew it would be a life experience.
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Caption: I spent two months attempting to summit Everest from the
South (Nepal) side.
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Caption: For me, the Khumbu ice fall was the most terrifying.
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Caption: It is a beautiful yet deadly place, with objective hazards everywhere. I felt completely out of control of my own safety while in there.
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Caption: House-sized ice blocks teetering on the edge, threatening to topple over and crush you.
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Caption: Once past the ice fall, you can breathe a sigh of relief. However, the biggest challenge is dealing with the altitude, and thus, breathing.
Caption: Your body constantly reminds you that you are in a place where humans aren't meant to exist,
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Caption: but if you desire the experience with enough enthusiasm, you can push through those dark moments and keep climbing.
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Caption: I climbed from Camp 4 at 8000 meters thru the night on May 24, 2012
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Caption: and on the morning of May 25, 2012 I stood on the summit of the tallest mountain in the world.
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Caption: For me it was a great life experience, one I wouldn't trade for anything. But would I do it again? Probably not. However....
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Caption: see that gorgeous diamond-shaped peak in the background?
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Caption: Yes, that one.
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Caption: That is Makalu, the 5th tallest peak in the world, and I am here right now
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Caption: staring at
Mount Everest from a new perspective
every morning
I wake up. (Left: Lhotse, 4th tallest in the world. Right: Everest)
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Caption: Photos by
Emily Harrington, Adrian Ballinger, Andy Bardon, and Kris Erikson
Caption: Be sure to check out Everest, in theaters September 18th
#EverestMovie