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Everest West Ridge 2006

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John Allan

Location

Lhasa

Time

21st April 2006

Following the disappointment and guilt of not achieving my objective, I could easily descend into self-pity or anger. I did that, but now I refuse, consciously, to linger there. Walking through Lhasa, I take in the incredible tradition and lifestyle. I am immersed first-hand in desperate poverty and inequality. I stand by, feel and smell it. The apparent saviours of this society are conspicuous by their lack of obvious presence. Only occasionally are Chinese officials seen. Seeking invisibility, they engage in friendly banter with street vendors.

I begin to contemplate my situation, and compare it not only through pity for child beggars or women making a living from selling nettles; but also to the immense faith they exude. Here, life is precious and can be taken away at any time. Even in death they give their corpses to feed vultures – I have witnessed this. I understand this now; Resilience, if anything, is about letting go of great desire, which for me was linked to Everest - my ultimate ambition. During initial interviews, a senior climber in EWR2006 stated that achievement entailed “coming back morally intact”. I hope to achieve this even though I’ve missed out on my ultimate goal.

John Allan, is researching the nature of psychological resilience as part of EWR 2006.

Carnegie Visiting team 26 April

John O'Hara 24 April

John Allan 24 April