Life's A Bit Like Mountaineering

We Had So Much In Common [with June Hillary] That We Just Carried On With Life As We Had Been Doing. It Wasn't Easy, But It Was - I Realise Now That It Was The Only Thing To Do.

I'm Sure The Feeling Of Fear, As Long As You Can Take Advantage Of It And Not Be Rendered Useless By It, Can Make You Extend Yourself Beyond What You Would Regard As Your Capacity. If You're Afraid, The Blood Seems To Flow Freely Through The Veins, And You Really Do Feel A Sense Of Stimulation.

While On Top Of Everest, I Looked Across The Valley Towards The Great Peak Makalu And Mentally Worked Out A Route About How It Could Be Climbed. It Showed Me That Even Though I Was Standing On Top Of The World, It Wasn't The End Of Everything. I Was Still Looking Beyond To Other Interesting Challenges.

I Think The Whole Attitude Towards Climbing Mount Everest Has Become Rather Horrifying. The People Just Want To Get To The Top. They Don't Give A Damn For Anybody Else Who May Be In Distress And It Doesn't Impress Me At All That They Leave Someone Lying Under A Rock To Die.

Good Planning Is Important. I've Also Regarded A Sense Of Humor As One Of The Most Important Things On A Big Expedition. When You're In A Difficult Or Dangerous Situation, Or When You're Depressed About The Chances Of Success, Someone Who Can Make You Laugh Eases The Tension.