Lessons Learned on Mt. Everest
“In 1991, he stood on the summit of the highest peak in the Antarctic with his Kiwi mates, Rob Hall & Gary Ball -- then the world's top mountain guides. They met less than a year earlier on the top of Elbrus, highest mountain in Europe. Now they were inviting him to climb with them on Everest. At age 42, when he started climbing some of the world's highest mountains, all Kopff had climbed the prior 20 years was the corporate ladder. At 25,000’ on Everest, an injury seven weeks into the expedition denied his summit bid. What did this highly competitive, "success-oriented" individual learn about life and about himself as a result? Join us for a multi-media trip up the highest mountain in the Antarctic and on Everest as Kopff shares "lessons learned."
The centerpieces for the tables were ice axes and crampons. Guests entered the dining room via a 200’ hallway lined with two fixed ropes. Gary greeted each guest by attaching prussick ropes around each person’s waist with a ‘biner at the other end and showed them how to “clip on” for safety when traveling through a simulated Khumbu Ice Fall en route to viewing his photos of the ascents on the Vinson Massif in the Antarctic and Everest via the South Col route. While clipped onto the fixed lines, the guests passed a posterboard with the following saying by a famous climber from that region who was on the 1st American ascent team on Everest in 1963:
"Risk, there is no real living without it. Die we all must, but try to knock all risk out of our lives and we lock ourselves tighter and tighter into a safe, comfortable, deadly box, and we die too, without ever having lived." - Willi Unsoeld
Feedback from one climber in the audience for Gary Kopff’s presentation:
“As you nicely made the rounds to the various tables following your presentation, I was the chap who talked about my Denali and Kilimanjaro climbs. I just wanted to again thank you for a job well done and for your level of humbleness when it comes to your various climbing achievements. Over the past decade plus I have met and or read about numerous "check book" climbers, primarily from the east coast, who buy their way to the top. When I read your vitae I was anticipating that you would be one of "those” but was pleasantly surprised to find that not to be the case. P.S. I talked with Brian Nelson [a climber whose two buddies were killed on Kilimanjaro in an accident in 1995 that left Brian severely injured] for several minutes on our way out and he too thoroughly enjoyed the experience and enjoyed your acknowledgement and company.”
Gary Kopff is available through EverestSpeakersBureau.com as a motivational speaker to create the same magic with your group.
Built to handle a myriad of different climbing pursuits, the Ultralight Universal is our best selling crampon. This crampon lives for trekking, glacier travel, or steep couloirs and snowfields. Totally adjustable Zytel straps make this crampon durable and easy to use. Fits everything from moon boots to flip-flops, our lightest crampon available. Weight: 590g Points: 10.
“In 1991, he stood on the summit of the highest peak in the Antarctic with his Kiwi mates, Rob Hall & Gary Ball -- then the world's top mountain guides. They met less than a year earlier on the top of Elbrus, highest mountain in Europe. Now they were inviting him to climb with them on Everest. At age 42, when he started climbing some of the world's highest mountains, all Kopff had climbed the prior 20 years was the corporate ladder. At 25,000’ on Everest, an injury seven weeks into the expedition denied his summit bid. What did this highly competitive, "success-oriented" individual learn about life and about himself as a result? Join us for a multi-media trip up the highest mountain in the Antarctic and on Everest as Kopff shares "lessons learned."
The centerpieces for the tables were ice axes and crampons. Guests entered the dining room via a 200’ hallway lined with two fixed ropes. Gary greeted each guest by attaching prussick ropes around each person’s waist with a ‘biner at the other end and showed them how to “clip on” for safety when traveling through a simulated Khumbu Ice Fall en route to viewing his photos of the ascents on the Vinson Massif in the Antarctic and Everest via the South Col route. While clipped onto the fixed lines, the guests passed a posterboard with the following saying by a famous climber from that region who was on the 1st American ascent team on Everest in 1963:
"Risk, there is no real living without it. Die we all must, but try to knock all risk out of our lives and we lock ourselves tighter and tighter into a safe, comfortable, deadly box, and we die too, without ever having lived." - Willi Unsoeld
Feedback from one climber in the audience for Gary Kopff’s presentation:
“As you nicely made the rounds to the various tables following your presentation, I was the chap who talked about my Denali and Kilimanjaro climbs. I just wanted to again thank you for a job well done and for your level of humbleness when it comes to your various climbing achievements. Over the past decade plus I have met and or read about numerous "check book" climbers, primarily from the east coast, who buy their way to the top. When I read your vitae I was anticipating that you would be one of "those” but was pleasantly surprised to find that not to be the case. P.S. I talked with Brian Nelson [a climber whose two buddies were killed on Kilimanjaro in an accident in 1995 that left Brian severely injured] for several minutes on our way out and he too thoroughly enjoyed the experience and enjoyed your acknowledgement and company.”
Gary Kopff is available through EverestSpeakersBureau.com as a motivational speaker to create the same magic with your group.
Built to handle a myriad of different climbing pursuits, the Ultralight Universal is our best selling crampon. This crampon lives for trekking, glacier travel, or steep couloirs and snowfields. Totally adjustable Zytel straps make this crampon durable and easy to use. Fits everything from moon boots to flip-flops, our lightest crampon available. Weight: 590g Points: 10.
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