May 2000, Shishapagma, 26,335 feet, 14th highest peak in the world. Steve Marolt, Jim Gile, and Maxut Zhumayev pondering the objective from afar on the Tibetan plateau. The north east ridge sticks out like a soar thumb center photo and considering at that moment that this was an attempt at a first American ski from 8000 meters, we were not feeling overly cocky. But that nervous respect is what draws you there. The process of taking it step by step until you know you can or can't is a combination of tremendous satisfaction and adventure that humbles you. It makes these expeditions a big puzzle mentally and physically. It's just you and the mountain and a bag of question marks. The connotations that come to me looking at that photo are just overpowering. For an instant, I felt that I was back there taking the photo. These moments just burn into your memory. Awesome!!
Send us your peak and what drew you to it; what memories are burned into your mind?
Jeff Rogers
Life can’t get much better than that!