Photo by Alyssa Walker
The most miserable and telling moment on my monthlong NOLS Alaska Outdoor Educator Course 13 years ago—descending a steep talus slope—taught me the value and beauty of expedition behavior, or EB. It also prepared me for an even bigger life adventure: parenthood.
Read MoreTopics: Family, Live the Dream, expedition behavior, Alaska
The start of a course, or any trip with new people, is usually a little bit messy. Setting up the tent just took 45 minutes and, when you finally finish, you realize that no one has started cooking dinner yet. On top of that, you don’t even have water to cook with yet.
Read MoreTopics: leadership, Behind the Scenes, expedition behavior
Yes, things are very real up here. Some are unfortunate accidents; other things are risk of being in the mountains. The incident where the Sherpa fell into the crevasse was totally avoidable. I have gone through the Khumbu Icefall four times now, once completely alone. I clipped into almost every fixed rope, which are many, most so that I would not fall into a crevasse, others so that my body could be found at the next fixed anchor should anything cut loose.
Read MoreTopics: Khumbu Icefall, NOLS, decision making, avalanche, Lhotse Face, Everest, skills, communication, Sherpa, Khumbu, Live the Dream, expedition behavior, expedition, Phil Henderson, Camp I, Camp II, judgment, Nuptse