Ed Viesturs: Not a pilot but he's been to 29,029 feet

I will take guidance from any source I can find even if its not aviation related. A good story is a good story.

The best book I’ve read in recent memory is Ed Viesturs “No Shortcuts to the Top.” Viesturs is the Michael Jordan of high altitude mountaineering. He is the first American to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000 meter peaks WITHOUT supplemental oxygen. Just for the record, 8,000 meters is 26,246 feet. At those altitudes you are slowly dying. Your brain essentially starves itself. Your muscles stop working. You are more susceptible to hypothermia. It’s just bad news no matter which you go. To say that Viesturs is a badass is a gross understatement.

There are a few keys to Viesturs’ success. He says that he always made very conservative decisions while in the mountains. He was never afraid to turn back if things didn’t look right. Any expedition that he was on usually took weeks if not months so turning back before you reached the top was never easy but it was oftentimes the smart decision.

I think he understates the other important factor. When I read his story I was struck by his absolute devotion and love of his sport. He gave up a career as a veterinarian so that he could climb mountains. He literally gave up a career, after he had his veterinary doctorate, and a job as a practicing vet; moved into a basement apartment with no windows; took a job building houses; ran 7 miles a day after he worked all day on a construction site; all so that he could be the best mountaineer that he could. It just so happened that “the best mountaineer that he could” was of a world class level.

He worked and worked and worked at it. Everything else was a second tier priority. I realize that it’s a crazy measurement to hold yourself up against but then again, he had a dream and he made it happen. He didn’t wait for it to happen; he made it happen for himself. Important lesson.

I just finished watching two weeks worth of Olympic events. Each athlete shares the same trait. There is no glory in some of the events, no sponsorship deals or magazine covers. Just the glory and pride that may be theirs for having worked so hard and achieved their goal.