Читать книгу No Magic Helicopter - Carol PhD Masheter - Страница 2

I am grateful for encouragement and generosity from many people. Without their help my climb of Everest or this book would not have been possible.

I thank my sister, Linda, for her patience with my crazy adventures. Long climbs on big mountains can be hard on those we love. Linda, I appreciate your tolerance. I also thank my late parents, my first and best teachers. They set high standards and expected me to meet them, for which I am grateful.

At the Utah Department of Health, where I work, David Sundwall, M.D., Keely Cofrin Allen, Ph.D., and Wu Xu, Ph.D., believed in my dream to climb Everest as much as I did. My other colleagues graciously continued our work during my absence. I appreciate their generous support.

Professional mountaineering guides, Javier Herrera and Ben Marshall, encouraged me to try Everest. Brian Cox, Mark Johnson, Mike Hamill, Calvin Hebert, and Alasdair Turner, helped me gain the necessary high-altitude experience and the skills. Thanks, guys.

I could not have climbed Everest without the guidance and support of our guides, climbing Sherpas, and Base Camp staff. The director of Adventure Consultants, Guy Cotter; the expedition leader, Mike Roberts; and guides, Lydia Bradey, Victor Saunders, and Ang Dorje Sherpa, were willing to take a chance on me, an amateur woman mountaineer in her 60s. Base Camp Sirdar (Sherpa leader), Ang Tsering Sherpa; Head Chef, Chhongba Sherpa; and Base Camp Managers, Laurel Morrison and Suze Kelly, transformed a stark maze of rock and ice into a home away from home.

The Adventure Consultants Sherpas have my undying respect and appreciation. They have a quiet strength, patience, and humility I try to emulate and often fail to attain. Thank you, Tendi Bai (younger brother) and Nima Bai, for doing your best to keep me safe under difficult circumstances. Many others quietly and capably provided invaluable support. They include Lhakpa Dorje Sherpa, Phu Tashi Sherpa, Dawa Zangbu Sherpa, Sangay Dorje Sherpa, Ang Sona Sherpa, Temba Sherpa, Pemba Choti Sherpa, Namgyal Sherpa, Passang Bhote #1 and Passang Bhote #2, and Zangbu Sherpa as well as our Base Camp Sherpa staff, Camp 2 staff, yak men, and porters. Namaste and thank you.

Several people started me on this path, though perhaps they, like me, never imagined it would include climbing Everest. Steve Coulter, Walt Haas, Steve Walker, and Kyle Williams, taught me basic mountaineering skills in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake, Utah. Bill Thompson gave me solid advice about gaining the necessary skills and high altitude mountaineering experience. Scott Carson and his colleagues at International Mountain Equipment (IME) in Salt Lake have encouraged me, a woman who started climbing late in life, for nearly two decades.

Dozens of friends from work, my yoga community, the Wasatch Mountain Club, and my meditation sangha (community) followed Internet dispatches and emails about my adventure. No doubt their prayers and good thoughts helped keep me safe.

Several friends gave me a hero’s farewell, even after my climb seemed over before it began. Their enthusiasm and optimism helped me overcome discouragement as my dream appeared to be unraveling. I will never forget that farewell dinner or their over-the-top welcome home.

Several people encouraged me to write this book. Thank you, Cyndi Bemis, Douglas M. Brown, Jamie Martell, and Mike Martin, for your encouragement and feedback. Thank you, Mark Gaskill and Bruce Tremper, for suggestions about publishing.

“Avoiding danger is no safer than outright exposure. Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

Helen Keller