Join us on Thursday October 20th @ 6:00pm for The Tao of Everest by Ian Woodall.
As the first rays of dawn crept across the Tibetan plateau Ian Woodall stepped on to the summit of Mount Everest and into history, one of a select few to have climbed the world’s highest mountain by both its south and north sides.
During his first ascent from the south Ian’s team were trapped at 24 000ft in the worst storm in Everest history which claimed the lives of five fellow climbers. After the trauma and tragedy of the storm Ian and his team nevertheless chose to try again, finally reaching the summit as the only ones left on the mountain.
Two years later while attempting the north side of Everest Ian stopped only a few hundred metres below the summit to try and help a dying American climber. The woman’s first words were, Don’t leave me’. Yet ultimately Ian had to leave her to secure the safety of his own team.
Nine years later Ian returned to 26 000ft on the north side of Everest to bury the woman he had been forced to leave behind. After wrapping her in the Stars & Stripes he slid her gently down the North Face to join her beloved husband lying somewhere below.
