23 May 2011
ASSA ABLOY Security Doors Team Leader, Geoff Chambers, is ‘on top of the world’ after achieving his lifelong dream of reaching the summit of Mount Everest.
He and his team left the South Col at 9pm Sunday 15 May and reached the earth’s most notorious summit at 6am Monday morning. They battled stronger than forecast winds which were reported to be over 30/40 miles/hr. By 11am Monday they had arrived safely back at Camp 4, only to start the 2-day descent back to Base Camp the next day.
During the 72-day expedition the team have met many physically demanding pitfalls, such as climbing the Lhotse ice face 7,200 metres above sea level at a 45 to 50 degree angle.
“This tough climb allowed our team leader to judge the team’s potential for movement to the higher camps and ultimately a summit bid,” said Geoff.
Taking a brief rest, Geoff then powered through the Khumbu Icefall - a glacier on the Nepali slopes which kills even experienced Sherpas - before preparing for the third camp. It is painstakingly slow making headway up Everest, as to combat the negative effects of oxygen deprivation, the group have to climb higher then return to lower ground to acclimatise to the condition.
Geoff is no stranger to mountain climbing in extreme conditions. Just last year he climbed Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Children’s Heartbeat Trust as well as climbing Aconcagua in South America and almost conquered Manaslu, in the northern Himalayas - the eighth highest mountain in the world and the third most dangerous.
Geoff leads a team which specializes in our bespoke products such as glazed fire doors.
Well done Geoff!
