Dave Hahn Discusses 10th Summit of Everest

Dave Hahn captured his 10th successful summit of Mt. Everest in 2008. Dave became the first non-Sherpa climber to reach this plateau. He is still a bit off from the world record of 18 held by Apa Sherpa, but Dave still has plenty of time in the years ahead.

For the fourth consecutive year, Dave Hahn has posted his thoughts on this year’s climb to GreatOutdoors.com. In a year where communication troubles plagued many expeditions and other restrictions were enacted by Nepal in regards to the Chinese Olympic Torch bid, many of us had to resolve to scraping around what we could till many of the climbers got back on familiar turf. Dave now reports in on what it was like while he was there.

Dave actually reports of his displeasure of there being two different standards for records on Mt. Everest. One for Sherpa climbers, and another for non-Sherpas. With that being mentioned, we are now taking away that record from Dave. Just kidding. It is still a great feat, even if he is behind the “true” record of 18.

I do have to agree a bit with Dave on this subject.  Equality should be strived for no matter what religion, race, sexuality, or ability that a climber has.  On Everest, everyone is equal.  The experienced die, just like the inexperienced.

From Dave’s GreatOutdoors Dispatch:

Like I say though… I do like getting publicly recognized for something… even if it requires explaining away and disclaiming afterward. But my simply notching up a 10^th ascent wasn’t really the trick and shouldn’t surprise too many of my friends. At this point, with good health, I really ought to be able to drag my own carcass to the summit of Mt. Everest any number of times. After all, I’ve been up top in snowstorms and in darkness and while ill and injured and alone and from both Tibet and Nepal. I do know the way and I know how to sit back and let others do the hard work and trail-breaking and route-fixing. So planting my own two large feet at 29,000 ft again was really no big deal… honest.

Ummmm….Alright, now I am really thinking about taking that record away.  Really, no big deal?  What’s up with that Dave?

Perhaps he is trying to get clients geared up for next year when both sides will be fully open.  If he talks about how easy it is in the media, those with money looking for a cakewalk might be enticed to try something so simple as climbing Mt. Everest.  1 in 20 people who go for the summit DIE.  That is a fact.  Don’t let Dave or any of the other guides lead you to believe that this is a cakewalk.  There are real dangers of death–if you need proof, look no further than my report on Uwi Gianni Goltz who died this season.

Dave goes on to explain that his biggest achievement wasn’t his 10th summit, but rather leading the last of the  IMG team up to the top successfully on May 27th.  After reading Dave’s in-depth report, it looks like his summit bid was a little more harrowing than what Dave leads us to believe in the beginning, with bad weather, a close encounter with a rock fall, and finally the summit.

I take back my original thoughts and now give Dave a bit of credit.  He might be a bit smug over the summit ordeal, but if you read the rest of the post you will find out what Everest dished out to Dave this season and believe me, it was no cakewalk.  Nice report Dave.

While I am on the topic of Mt. Everest, I should have a post up tonight or tomorrow on Alan Arnette, and his big (alright, HUGE) report of this season with some of the political wranglings, insight, and even some chicanery with the Chinese military that was quite amusing.  Be on the lookout for that as I get some time today.

By the way, if you enjoy the Everest posts and dispatches, be sure to check out my previous coverage of Everest 2007 and Everest 2008.  If you want to get the latest Mt. Everest news, subscribe to my RSS Feed or my Email Newsletter.  Lastly, if you are thinking of heading to Everest in 2009, contact me via email at theadventurist@cliffhanger.com.  I offer up one of the top Mt. Everest coverage sites in the world and can help you out in regards to publicity, interviews, advertising etc.  Drop me a line, and I will see what we can do.

Cheers-