(click
photo to enlarge)
Mt.
Everest, North Face
Expedition
Goals
by
Ed Hommer
On August 10, the American-Canadian Mt. Everest Expedition will depart for Tibet. Our team will attempt to summit the North Face of Mt. Everest via the Great Couloir Route.
The significance of this is that I am a double amputee. Nineteen years ago, I lost both of my feet due to severe frostbite when my plane crashed on the slopes of Mt. McKinley. It has been my passion to take this tragic accident and turn it into an inspiration to others who are facing life’s adversities.
On June 3, 1999, I became the first double amputee to summit Mt. McKinley, and I hope to be the first double amputee to summit Mt. Everest. This has sent a bold message of hope to many other people who face lifelong physical challenges.
In the past three years I have led four expeditions. Three of these expeditions have been to Alaska and one was to the Himalaya in Nepal. These climbs have been the subject of three NBC Dateline stories. We have also appeared twice on the Today Show with Kati Couric and Matt Lauer, and we have received extensive local media coverage in Minnesota where I live. My team was also featured on a Discovery Health Channel documentary that aired June 25, 2001.
These expeditions were only made possible because of the tremendous support that we have received from sponsors in the past. I have a strong team of experienced climbers that includes Jim Wickwire, Expedition Leader and the first American to summit K2. The team also includes Kelly Raymond, Brian McCullough, Karl Swanson, Dan Bronstein and Scott Anderson. Team member Dan Bronstein will be our climbing cameraman. He has previously summitted Mt. Everest via the North Col Route. This Everest Expedition will also be the subject of another NBC Dateline special and will be aired on the Discovery Channel.
We are doing much more than climbing geographical peaks. We have helped, and will continue to help, many other people climb their own emotional mountains. Courage is not always marked by a roar but more often quietly saying at day’s end: “I will try again tomorrow.” I have dedicated my life to instilling this type of courage in others. I believe that life always holds great promise, even against long odds. The human spirit is a powerful force that we all have within us. Sometimes we need help finding the courage to use it.
I am in the process of starting a non-profit foundation that will help others obtain high-level prosthetic devices. Our non-profit foundation will focus on young, active people whom we will help return to an active and productive life without limits. In effect, we will give them back their dreams. I faced my life’s greatest tragedy nineteen years ago, and I feel very fortunate to be able to turn that incident into a positive message for others. This team is committed to delivering the message of hope to others.
--Ed Hommer
