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EverestNews.com interview with
Swee Chiow
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EverestNews.com interview with
Swee Chiow, a member of the Singapore 98 Everest Expedition, who climbed Everest from the
South Side in Spring 1998. Swee Chiow on 5/19/98 reached the South Summit before turning
around along with the 50 plus other climbers that were the first group to attempt the
summit from the South Side in 1998. Six days later he made a second successful attempt and
reached the Summit on 5/25/98 with 11 other climbers including five others from his team.
This year 42 climbers reached the summit from the South Side of Everest. Two climbers
reached the summit two times each for a total of 44 summits from the South Side so far in
1998.
(The News Update is after the Interview)
EverestNews.com Interview with Everest Swee Chiow
Q. [EverestNews.com] First can you give us some
background on yourself...
A. [Swee Chiow] I am a systems (software)
analyst in Singapore Airlines. I was never a climber during school days. It was only when
I started working in 1988, I started to trek and then slowly progressed to mountaineering.
By the way, my hometown is Port Dickson - the place where Joe Simpson spent some of his
childhood. Perhaps he'll contact me if he reads this. I would be so honored to hear from a
legend.
Other climbs I did - Stok Kangri
(Ladakh), Putha Hiunchuli, Cho Oyu, Grand Combin & Mont Blanc. Other treks I did -
Kilimanjaro, Longs Peak, Mt Elbert, Mt Massif, Kerinci (Sumatra), Rinjani (Lombok), YuSan
(Taiwan), ShiehSan (Taiwan) & Kinabalu (Sabah).
Q. [EverestNews.com] Why did you go to Everest?
A. [Swee Chiow] My first "encounter"
with Everest was during my first trip to Nepal in 1989. Since then, its become my dream to
climb it. It was just a dream until 1994, when our team leader David made a nation wide
call for climbers to join the team, I knew my dream could be coming true.
Q. [EverestNews.com] Describe summit day for
us?
A. [Swee Chiow] It was the hardest endurance
test I ever put myself through. The summit ridge from South Summit onwards was the most
dangerous. The wind was howling, my hands were painful and going numb. Thanks to my Sherpa
Nawang who gave me a hand warmer. That helped a lot. But I was very dehydrated and my
movement was becoming very slow. The Hillary Step took a lot of energy out of me. Beyond
that, the false summits seemed to go on forever - one
cornice after another. When I finally saw my partner Edwin & the Sherpas on the
summit, it didn't register to me that I was nearing the highest summit in the world. But
when I stepped on the summit, tears rolled down my face. It was 6.30am. I have never
expected to be there so fast.
Q. [EverestNews.com] Describe the descent from the
summit ?
A. [Swee Chiow] It was a nightmare. My vision
was blurred due to the cold wind and the sun. I didn't wear my goggles on the way up after
sunrise on South Summit. I was even slower descending to the South Summit. My crampons got
entangled in the old ropes on Hillary Step. On the 1st summit attempt, we went down the
steep face from Balcony down to C4 without any rope. But this time, we were just too tired
and again, thanks to our 4 Sherpas, they used their ice axes as temporary anchors to pay
out the rope and we used it to guide our descent on some tricky sections. On reaching C4,
the Sherpas were eager to go further down. So, they broke camp. By the time we got into
C2, it was past 6pm and I have never been so exhausted in my life. We had been on the move
for more than 20 hours. I felt as if I was going to drop dead anytime.
Q. [EverestNews.com] Other climbers are telling us
that Bernardo Guarachi was one of the strongest climbers on Everest. Who do you think were
the strongest climbers (including Sherpa) this year on the South side?
A. [Swee Chiow] Bernardo is a superman. He moves
like the Sherpas. He's the most courteous guy I've ever met. I saw him sitting outside his
tent alone everyday, looking at the mountains. That's how he sat out the bad weather. His
inner strength and patience shows. His Makalu experience and this time, his camera failed
him on the summit, made me feel very sympathetic towards him.
Q. [EverestNews.com] Will you be back next year?
A. [Swee Chiow] Wow, I like the way you put it -
so simple ! None of us in Singapore (at least not me) can afford the money. The team
fund-raised, trained and planned for 4 years for this project. That's how hard it is for
us. But then, if someone is willing to sponsor, why not ?
Q. [EverestNews.com] Will you consider the North side
of Everest in the future?
A. [Swee Chiow] I think the North side holds
more magic and mystery for me - being the original route for the pioneers. Their struggle
and drama high up never fail to strike a cord in me every time I read it again and again. I
saw Everest from afar at Old Tingri last year on the Cho Oyu trip. It was simply awesome.
My only regret on that trip is that we didn't go to Rongbuk.
Q. [EverestNews.com] The question every armchair
climber wants to know. Why risk it all?
A. [Swee Chiow] I don't consider myself a very
technical or skilful climber. My motivation comes from my curiosity that always asks:
"Can I do it ? Can I do it faster ? Can I go higher ?" I am kind of a fanatic.
Once I am hooked on an idea, it's hard to put it down. In addition, mountains are
beautiful, they've got so many moods and faces.
Q. [EverestNews.com] What's Next ?
A. [Swee Chiow] The next step after Everest - I
slept at C3 (7300m) on Everest without oxygen & I felt ok. It would be exciting to
find out if I can do a "low & easy" 8000er without oxygen. That would be the
next logical test of my climbing limit. Perhaps Xixabangma or G2. Pushing my limit a
little further each time and self-discovery is very exciting for me. It keeps me going I
guess.
Q. [EverestNews.com] David ...
A. [Swee Chiow] On David - He's the mastermind
behind this 4-year project. Without him, this whole Everest business would not have been
possible. So, we all owe our success to him.
Thanks much.
Swee Chiow
EverestNews.com has a feeling you
will hear about Swee Chiow back on a 8000 meter peak in the future.
Update: I
just came back from Vinson. I am so glad to have completed it. Here are my Seven
Summits details:
Kili - 20 Jun 1994
Everest - 25 May 1998
Aconcagua - 29 Feb 2000
Denali - 1 Jul 2000
Elbrus - 19 Sep 2000
Carstenz - 19 Oct 2000
Kosciuszko - 28 Oct 2000
Vinson - 22 Nov 2000
Date of birth 16/11/64. Singaporean.
For a list of those who have
completed the Seven Summits see here. Note updated once
per year.
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