TEDxSalford - Stephen Venables - To The Top: The Story of Everest

Stephen Venables is a mountaineer, writer and broadcaster who prefers the untrodden path -- he is the first Briton to have climbed Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen. Nearly all his Himalayan expeditions have been to previously unclimbed peaks. In the case of Everest, others had been there first, so he climbed a new route, without oxygen equipment, and established a new altitude record for surviving a night out in the open. He has published twelve books, taken part in numerous television films and has just returned from his third crossing of South Georgia -- on this occasion following other steps -- Sir Ernest Shackleton's. He has a horror of committee meetings, but couldn't refuse the invitation to be president of the world's oldest mountaineering association, the Alpine Club, during its recent 150th anniversary.
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[@bryantuffnell3387]

How wonderful to hear mountaineering referred to in such positive terms! So much mountain media focuses on superhuman qualities and extreme danger, and the adjectives tend to wear thin. Of course climbing is fun, and it's delightfully refreshing to listen to someone using a language that we can relate to. I haven't climbed Everest, but as a humble alpinist I do know that climbers are not different to the rest of us, and climbing is a wonderful, enjoyable, sensual and richly rewarding activity. Well done, Stephen. Thank you for speaking my language.

[@bryantuffnell3387]

@Steve How about posting a separate comment, rather than posting a diatribe like that as a reply to my comment?

[@rayblade6383]

Excellent talk, great speaker....What an adventure!

[@ianmcteer9871]

I learned lots of new things about Everest in watching this video,thanks very much Stephen!

[@joeschmoe6306]

Amazing man, very positive and motivating..

[@incomemobile8566]

One of these days I'm gonna summons the courage over come my fear reach deep DEEP inside and find a way to venture outside my bedroom and go outside.

[@garyk1334]

@Abdiel Jaxen Nope couldn't give a damn . Get a proper job

[@humesy69]

Got the book of this climb for my 21st birthday. Inspired me to climb in Alaska, the US, Peru and NZ.

[@jayramdahal3799]

great.. welcome to Nepal

[@Grinsauce]

I live in Maine where Ed Webster lived for a time and met him several times. He wrote a wonderful book “Snow in the Kingdom”about this experience and signed it for me. it is a great read, treat yourself to it. He also suffered some very severe frost bite but has a excellent attitude about this demand journey. Talking with him put perspective on your own life.

[@kentlarsen5834]

They were the smallest unsupported group to make a new route up Everest, they had no oxygen or Sherpas. All four suffered frostbite with Ed Webster being the worst.

[@stupidasso77]

Wonderful very motivating.

[@sophiadvine7804]

stupidasso77 a

[@demlinnalo2030]

🤘

[@beattyjanson1919]

Fun speaker but he skips the bit where his two climbing buddies had to go back up to rescue him. Indeed, Webster suffered severe frostbite bailing him out. Venables likes to describe himself as "lucky" but he seems to constantly need other climbers to bail him out and he's had to be carried out three times risking other climber's lives. Kind of a pest on the mountains.

[@sunsetlights100]

Wow do u have link

[@TheSmashingDoc1]

a real climber, climbs every crevasse down and then up again, ladders are for little girls

[@apexxxx10]

10:14 *Well edited lecture. Research, Photos and quotes. However the original quotation by Immanuel Kant in German ( auf Deutsch) would been “brilliant“*

[@apexxxx10]

0:47 *Stripe shirts and TV, especially KZbin there’s always some optical weirdness going on. What is it?*

[@gangotrichattopadhyay9107]

I am 18 and since I gained my consience I have seen my father climbing mountains. My uncles pictures on the summit of Mount Everest. I hope to climb it too. Maybe I will succeed. Else if the Everest wants me to lay in it's lap I will. I will give myself a try .

[@michaellaplante616]

RIP to Ed Webster, a neighbor and friend.

[@cynthiamarston2208]

I suppose if (is itlegal )some artists would love to sculpt the yellow rock marble. I wonder if they can remove rock as souvenir. I know of a father who brought back melted snow for his kids. Maybe they do. Maybe they have stones in a bazzaar with other souvenirs. My default is idleness too….but i can get wrapped up….i love how baby steps is so well explained in The Everest attempt

[@Bribosome]

guys a legend but...he tends to accredit his successes to "extreme luck". not only his own, but he attaches it to all successful climbers. if thats what he believes, makes me wonder why anyone would risk death based on extreme luck, not just everyday luck. he has two sons at home while he's lucking into the death zone. i happen to believe that there are serious, dedicated, skillful professional climbers that would beg to differ.

[@skobird2732]

Yeah i intend to get my mountaineering done before i have a wife/family. But i dont agree with his 'extreme' luck, but it does take some luck, every individual reacts differently to high altitudes so the is some luck. In his case he had to spend the night without shelter basically in the death zone, he didnt talk much about that here which is weird but that would be extremely lucky in itself.

[@Bribosome]

Sko Bird theres an inherent luck in everything we do. i just couldnt put my life on the line with that kind of preconceived fact guiding my decisions, know what i mean? it just seems like it could leave room for carelessness or attention to detail. im positive im reading more into it or more likely im taking him too literally. good luck in your climbing...lol, pun fully intended. be safe.

[@petehuskins]

I think he's just being realistic and honest. All mountaineering, especially at extreme altitude is hugely dependent on luck. Being the strongest or most skillful climber tips the odds more in your favour but there are so many factors out of your control that luck does play a large and I would argue the biggest deciding factor.

[@Bribosome]

Peter Huskins high altitude mountaineering success isnt "hugely" based in luck. it takes a particular set of skills, training and most important judgement. if youre risking your life based on luck with an oxygen deprived mind then you meet the criteria for institutionalization. you wont hear many mountaineers say we were just lucky. and if you do theyre simply being modest, not feeling the need to gloat or brag about themselves. it takes a special set of skills and the proper intense conditioning to climb above 26 thousand feet. theres not much room for luck. i think he...and you are equating risk and stupidity with luck.

[@jurretravaille307]

NO mention about the real rock legends, the sherpas?

[@robertmadsanderson]

If you listen to the talk you will find we climbed without Sherpa support, thus while we had a sherpa cook and Norbu Tenzing accompanied us to Base Camp, we were not climbing with Sherpas on the peak itself.

[@humesy69]

@@robertmadsanderson Real climbing!

[@robertmadsanderson]

we only had a sherpa cook, none were on the climb with us.

[@jurretravaille307]

Yeah sorry about it. Saw some rich people going for the selfies videos before i watched yours. Won't happen again but good it's cleared. Nevertheless even more thumbs up for an incredible achievement

[@plantplanetearth509]

I would love to see or hear the descent!

[@stephenvenables4700]

Read all about it in Everest Alone at the Summit!

[@jenniferfonder193]

looks very delightfully hard to do

[@Katwoman4318]

Wonderful story. Wonder how Steve felt that night alone, dark, & cold on Everest? I guess one second at a time? Cheers!

[@bananka4905]

well explained