New Ulm native shares his Everest experience

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- He was one of six climbers to participate in the American-Canadian Mount Everest Expedition from August to mid-October. He climbed with Ed Hommer, who was the first double-amputee to summit the highest point in North America, Mount McKinley in Alaska.

Scott Anderson, the son of Cliff and Jean of New Ulm, participated in an expedition from August to October in hopes of helping Hommer become the first double-amputee to summit Mount Everest.

Unfortunately, the team fell short by 3,000 feet. The team made it to 26,000 feet before blizzard conditions forced them to turn back.

Anderson told his story of the expedition to a crowd of about 50 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church Saturday night. Anderson showed a slide presentation from the expedition and answered many questions from the curious audience.

Anderson currently lives in Two Harbors, and works for Granite Gear, a climbing and back-packing company. He first met Hommer in 1999 when the latter came into Granite Gear to try on some backpacks for his Mount McKinley climb. Hommer invited him along on the expedition.

"It was the trip of a lifetime," Anderson said. "The trip was unsuccessful but still a great experience. Your learn about the hardships one can take."

Hommer lost his legs to frostbite in a plane crash almost 20 years ago on Mount McKinley.

Anderson said he personally he climbed to 23,000 feet -- 6,000 feet short of the Mount Everest summit.

"It was 6,000 feet away from the summit, but it's up there," Anderson said. "It's the highest point I've been ever on."

Anderson said that it was a team decision to turn back at 26,000 feet.

"There was lots of snow and very windy conditions. The winds were easily around 60-70 miles per hour," Anderson said.

Anderson has been climbing for approximately 11 years. His first major hike and climb was Long's Peak in Colorado in 1987, and his first major climb was last year when he climbed Mount Tharpa Chuli, Nepal.

Anderson said the team had plenty of food to eat and mainly slept in tents. From certain areas during the climb, satellite phones and internet access were available to help him stay in touch with his family.

Showing others that even as a double-amputee, people can keep doing the things they enjoy, was a message of Hommer's.

"Ed wanted to give something back to the amputees and show them what he's found," Anderson said. "He wants amputees to know that they can get back on their feet. It's a lot about giving back -- that's Ed Hommer."

Anderson himself participated for a number of reasons -- such as to encourage people with amputations to get out and resume their lifestyle, and show people the possibilities of life without limitations.

Anderson said one time a disastrous mud slide held the team up for three hours, and there was nothing the team could do but wait.

"I never spent so much time waiting in my life -- it's like a big waiting game," Anderson said. "So you sit in your tent and do a lot of reading or playing cards."

The team arrived in base camp at the end of August and turned back on Oct. 11. Base camp was at 17,000 feet and advanced base camp was at 21,000 feet. Anderson made four trips between base camp and advanced base camp carrying backpacks full of supplies.

"Some say that you could lose about one pound of weight a day," Anderson said. "I lost about 20-25 pounds during the trip, which I'm unfortunately starting to gain back."

The team learned about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks about two days after the fact.

"We had a meeting at advanced base camp about what happened and so we tried to get a hold of our families to learn about what was going on," Anderson said. "We made a decision to keep going for it -- and we thought we were at a safe place being 21,000 feet in the air. We all just really couldn't believe it."

Anderson said Hommer was extremely affected as a result of the attacks. Hommer is currently the only double-amputee who serves as a pilot for American Airlines.

Anderson's parents are very proud of their son.

"We are so proud of him. He's our youngest, he's our adventurer," said Cliff. "He's a very unique and very important man. We're so happy he's home safe and sound. He had two adventures on his trip -- learning about different cultures and his climbing adventure."