Everest '97 - The Louisville Connection

Everest '97

The Louisville Connection

by Broc Bradley

Publication Date: July 1997

When the invitation of a life-time comes along, Cindy Herzog knows when to leap (or in this case, climb) at the opportunity. Born and raised in Louisville, KY, but currently living in Indianapolis, IN, Cindy had gotten the call from Steve Reynolds that she could go to Nepal and be a part of the expedition and witness the summit attempt on Mount Everest.

Cindy, who is a marathon runner, got to know Steve and a small group of runners that were also mountain climbers and fraternity brothers with Dave Carter, a leading climber and Indianapolis native. Dave, who attempted the summit on Everest in 1991, found out there was a slot open in an expedition that summitted last May. "Dave first found out in November of '96 that there was a spot for him on the team and Steve Reynolds knew immediately that he was going. But, I could only hope that I would be invited. I didn't know for sure until March," said Herzog.

Without any prior climbing experience, Cindy was concerned that she might be getting in over her head. "I decided after many talks with Dave that you didn't need to be a climber to do what I was doing. To get up to Base Camp, you just need to be physically fit and I felt that I was."

The plan was set. Cindy along with Dave's friends, Steve Reynolds, Todd Moore, and Jeff Lundy would trek up to Base Camp and be in place when Dave Carter, David Breashears, Jungbu Sherpa, Pete Athans, and Ed Viesturs reached the summit. They would remain there to hike out with the summit team and celebrate.

Dave Carter left with his team on March 25. Cindy and her group left on April 28. On May 1, her group left Katmandu and arrived in Lukla by bush plane. Lukla is 9186 feet above sea level. The trek to Base Camp took them ten days and to an altitude of 18,300 feet. "The other three guys had all climbed Mt. Ranier. I was expending more energy during the trek than they were," confided Herzog. "They said I needed to be doing the rest step which is a common climbing technique. Once I mastered the step, it made a huge difference." After making each succeeding camp, a period of acclimation was required for the body to adjust to the altitude.

The provisions were provided by Last Frontiers Trekking Ltd. They outfit groups with food and guides for Everest climbs. Cindy's itinerary for each day was scheduled by the company. "These guys were great," said Cindy. "They plan everything and are a class outfit." The meals were prepared by their cook, a local Sherpa. "Their diet consists of the same thing everyday; a stew-like substance with rice and lentils called dalh bat. We got our protein from eggs," explained Herzog. The fruit left something to be desired, but was a welcomed commodity. After all, it was flown in over thousands of miles. They ate Power Bars and Snickers for energy boosts during the active portions of the day.

The one thing that surprised Cindy was the amount of people on the trails. They were of all ages. "Some looked like they never exercised a day in their life," she remarked. "The amount of construction was incredible. Everest has become a real tourist area."

For Dave Carter, the mountain is spiritual. He felt as if he had some unfinished business. In 1991 he failed to reach the summit. "I don't think I climbed the mountain right. 1991 was more of a learning year for me to climb this mountain," he confesses during an interview on Nova. A summit bid on May 4 was called off after three days because of high winds. "I definitely had Everest fever," Carter said.

On May 19, they set up the mountain again. The team reached 26,000 feet on May 22. At 9 p.m. they readied themselves, and by 10 p.m. the march to the top was on.

As they approached 28,000 feet, the sun rose and cast a spectacular shadow of Everest out about 150 miles into Nepal. The climbers found themselves transfixed for 45 minutes.

At the bottom of Hillary Step, a 30-foot vertical snow and rock step, the team came across the body of Bruce Herrod, a climber who died the year before. Herrod had broken his leg on the descent. The team gave Herrod the traditional burial--sending his body off a ridge. Carter said Herrod's down coat tore and the feathers burst out and blew to the summit.

Carter reached the summit of 29,028, but it was during the descent that he ran into trouble. A respiratory infection had caused his throat to constrict and the phlegm began to freeze in his airway. Teammate Ed Viesturs had to perform the Heimlich maneuver numerous times during the night to keep Carter breathing. Carter said he owed his life to Viesturs.

Carter estimated that some 30 people made the summit, while nine climbers died. Some climbers tried when they shouldn't have, including five who died on a day when Carter's team waited for better climbing conditions.

Herzog's personal achievement was to make it to the top of Kala Pattar (18,300 feet) while Carter was climbing to the summit. When asked if she has the desire to make it to the top of Everest, Cindy quickly said "No!"

So, if mountain climbing isn't in Cindy's future, what is? "Travel...there is so much splendor out there that I'd like to see," confesses Herzog.