206: Everest Group Podcast

In this episode of ‘Finding Your Summit’ podcast host Mark Pattison, former NFL Player, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Mountaineer talks to a collection of climbers at Everest Base Camp on their “why” for climbing the highest mountain in the world.
Listen to “EP 206: Everest Group Podcast” on Spreaker.

Episode Highlights

• 01.18 – Mark introduces one of his fellow climbers (Art Mirror) who is pretty remarkable.
• 03:40: – Art talks about his journey of becoming a climber.
• 06:40: – Mark asks Art that why he is on Everest and what is it about ever since calling his name?
• 08:28: – Art says that this time for him success is getting anywhere above camp to anything beyond.
• 10:50: – “Life is such a precious, fleeting gift, that you need to take advantage of it.” Says Art.
• 13:28: – Mark enquires from Kevin about how he got into climbing.
• 15:40: – Kevin reveals how he met Art Mirror during the journey.
• 17:55: – Mark questions Kevin on what is it for him that helps him balance other life issues as a Mountain Climber.
• 19:50: – According to Kevin, if you’re a runner, you want to do the Boston Marathon and if you’re a climber you want to do Mount Everest.
• 22:40: – He states that they’ve only been together for three weeks, the only person he knew in the team coming in was Art but now he already have 15 new friends.
• 25:00: – Mark mentions, “Life is being present in what’s right in front of you right under present”.
• 27:20: – He expresses that it is his first time on a big expedition.
• 29:13: – Mark asks another climber – Kristin from Norway about her journey of getting into climbing.
• 32:40: – Kristin says that she did many technical mountains in Norway and since she quit her job, she has been out travelling and climbing mountains.
• 35:20: – She talks about her experience with other climbers, coming from different origins and nationalities; she says most of the people that she meets are really nice people.
• 37:12: – Kristin states that she talked to Garrett Madison in summer 2020 about her plan to come down to Kathmandu for this expedition.
• 39:15: – In Kristin’s view everybody there have to help each other, have to stay together and be strong together.
• 42:00: – Mark introduces another climber, Becks Fairy; she is on a different yet connected trip going up Mount Everest.
• 44:20: – Mark asks Becks, “How does a mom of five and her big career go from doing that to mountain climbing and that too the biggest mountain in the world.”
• 46:37: – Becks elaborates on the point when she transitioned into taking bigger challenges of going straight up to the mountains.
• 48:30: – As per Becks it’s so important to meet other people, respect other people’s cultures, have compassion and be kind and humble.
• 50:-10: – Becks says that it’s the process and the journey of getting to the summit as well the small components which she loves.
• 53:00:- Mark enquires from his final guest – Rowan Murphy about the human interest part of it and also talks about his climbing journey.
• 56:-07: – He questions Rowan about some of the valuable lessons that made him a better person.
• 58:45: – Mark asks his last question to Rowan about how did he pick Gary Madison and made this dream become a reality.
• 61:30: – Mark thanks Rowan Murphy for joining in the discussion.

3 Key Points

1. Organization is a key to structure a big expedition like this one and thereby success follows 100%.
2. It’s really interesting how none of climbers, coming from different countries (Norway, UK, Britain, Canada, etc.) knew each other but now really have formed a bond. It’s important to meet other people, respect each-other’s cultures, have compassion and be kind and humble.
3. As per Mark, we all go through many things in life that’s just life and if you haven’t been through it, you’re going to have it.

Tweetable Quotes

“You know, when you climb up a mountain, as you know, you’re overcoming a lot of things, a lot of personal grit, and things you’ve been going through.” – Mark Pattison

“I’m old enough now that it’s more about the trip, the companionship, the preparation.” – Art Mirror

“I think one of the things that I’ve seen is that your body can be like a car.” – Mark Pattison

“But the more you do, the more you know, a lot of us here are type a focused people and the more you want, so I decided it was time to raise the bar and the guide said, sure you’re ready.” – Kevin

“I’m glad I’m here in all these interesting people that happened to be within this group, led by Garrett Madison.” – Mark Pattison

“We have good days, we have bad days, and we’re feeling that right now.” – Mark Pattison

“I guess, I finishing the Seven Summits would probably be the next step subcategory.” – Kevin

“Yeah, chocolate milk cows, really romantic.” – Kristin

“And, again, you come from an international community, and how did you in the crazy world end-up landing on Madison mountain area with Garrett.” – Mark Pattison

“At this point, we’re at 17,500 feet and we’re going to start going through the Khumba Ice field.” – Mark Pattison

“Well, being the queen of Norway, you might be carried up there in some kind of a big crowd or something so crazy.” – Mark Pattison

“I think you can still do anything you want. Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean to say that you have to get lost in domestic chores, have children and, you know, I love my kids and they’re the most important thing to me ever.” – Becks Fairy

“If you don’t love the process, you don’t love being here, you don’t love being in the camaraderie with all these great people here, you’ll never make it at the top.” – Mark Pattison

“It’s always the small things, it’s not the big things because every small detail adds-up to make the bigger picture.” – Becks Fairy

“I can only imagine I’ve got two daughters so yeah they’re rooting me on and they’re very proud but you know everybody’s scared.” – Mark Pattison

“Yes that’s it it’s going to see a world and different things.” – Rowan Murphy