Thames Valley Branch – Breakfast Meeting and AGM 14^th March

Ian Woodall – The Tao of Everest.

Ian Woodall is an ex soldier, restaurateur, teacher, mountaineer, and an inspirational and motivational speaker. He has been on five expeditions to Everest, and took us on a roller-coaster of emotions in a unique AV presentation of some of his experiences.

Little gems of truisms littered his talk, such as “memories become more important than dreams” – meaning if you don’t attempt to realise your dreams, you’ll never have the opportunity to look back on them.

We started at Kilamanjaro, where, falling in love at first sight, he fell flat on his face, slid through a mud pool and disappeared over the side of the mountain only arresting his descent with a banana.   Yet, still she married him (eventually), when he proposed atop Everest.

On Everest, he attempted to rescue some of the 21 climbers known to be lost in a storm. He had to make a simple choice – stay and be safe, or risk everything to go and help. In an agony of indecision, he finally chose to concentrate on what he could achieve, and did the best he could, saving one man (although eight died ). But doing the best one can, is another of life’s lessons.

After that storm, several climbing teams decided against going on; but Ian’s team recognized they were stronger as a team than individuals, and decided to attempt the peak, thwarted by bad weather they were on the point of giving up when a phone call from Nelson Mandela was received, praising their efforts. So they did not give up, and tried again, finally standing on the roof of the world. They were inspired by another great lesson of life – reach out and recognise someone’s effort, not just once they have succeeded, but even whilst they are trying.

On another Everest ascent, they came across the dying body of an American lady climber. Desperate efforts were made to pick her up and carry her to safety, but in the bitter cold and thin atmosphere, Ian and his wife were physically unable to do so. To delay in the worsening conditions put them at extreme risk themselves, so the heartbreaking decision was made to leave their friend, and save themselves, following the acknowledged mountaineers code.

Nine years later, they returned to bury her properly. As Ian said, there are situations where you may not be the best person for the job, but sometimes you are the only person.

Little did we know when Ian started his presentation that we would sit breathless and entranced as he took us through the highs (literally!) and lows of his journey, and at the end of the hour we would be giving him a standing ovation. But that is what happened!

For Ian’s details, visit www.ianwoodall.com. He plans to return to Everest next year, to bury the bodies of two other climbers, provided he can raise the £195k required to fund the mission.

Many thanks to Gary Baker and the team at Verizon for their hospitality, and an excellent breakfast!