I think, as a young guy, I was always drawn to being in wild places. Climbing was a logical extension of that. Conrad Anker More Quotes by Conrad Anker More Quotes From Conrad Anker Enlightenment isn't found with a full stomach, or on a soft pillow. Conrad Anker stomach enlightenment found There is such a gauntlet of risk that you go through when you climb up to Everest. Conrad Anker climbs everest risk Climbers have no sense of smell. Conrad Anker climbers smell It's the size of a dishwasher and maybe about as heavy as one, i've done [ Devils Tower ] several times before, but it's always a challenging climb -- and even more so for an IMAX film. Conrad Anker top-news They're going in Khumbu Icefall and, as we found out on April 18, Khumbu Icefall's Khumbu Icefall, they're exposed to the tumbling ice, hanging seracs above it. It's very, very dangerous. It's the most dangerous place I've been in the mountains. Conrad Anker top-news The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters. Conrad Anker matters climb us summit Mountains are freedom. Treat them respectfully. Conrad Anker them mountains treat freedom It's our human nature to explore. Tens of thousands of years ago, our species walked out of Africa, traveling far and wide across the entire planet, from the Arctic to the tip of Tierra Del Fuego, making us the most geographically diversified species on Earth. Conrad Anker africa human-nature nature earth I like to think that today is the best day of my life and tomorrow will be the next best day of my life. And if you think that way, you're living for the beauty of today. Conrad Anker best day beauty life I learned that life is about the people around you and the people you give back to. That's what parenting is: You're not there for yourself; you're there for your offspring and everyone else around you. Conrad Anker yourself you parenting life We can't take climate change and put it on the back burner. If we don't address climate change, we won't be around as humans. Conrad Anker back take climate-change change If people see me giving back to the military, they'll hopefully follow suit and be good to these guys who have done so much. I'm not Lance Armstrong or Tiger Woods - I'm just an old, gray-beard mountain climber, but I'm hoping to inspire people to follow my way. Conrad Anker good me mountain people I'm done with Everest. I did it three times, and I need to be good at that and be happy with it and focus on other climbs. Conrad Anker be-happy good focus happy If you compare Everest photographs in 1953 with its current state, things are melting. I imagine if I were a golfer in Indiana, I'd be hard-pressed to believe in climate change because nothing's going on there. But when you're up in the mountains and seeing the glaciers melt away, it's an obvious physical manifestation of a warming planet. Conrad Anker you climate-change change believe When I was a kid, we would build pillow forts. My pillow fort was always like Ice Station 9 in Antarctica. The other kids would come by and be like, 'Oh! The wind and snow is blowing.' From a young age, I wanted to be out there and surviving. I'm a high-strung, hyperactive guy. Conrad Anker always age snow wind From a climbing standpoint, gravity is the adversary. You and your fellow humans are striving together to get to the same place at the same time. And I think that's a really good way for humans to interact. Conrad Anker good you together time Standing on the apex of our planet is humbling. I'm starved of oxygen, depleted of reserves, unable to eat, and bound by anxiety. This is a dangerous place. Yet the symbolism of standing on top of the world gives me a chance to experience time on a cosmic scale. Conrad Anker me experience time world Live in the moment and make the most of every single hour that you're alive. Like it says on the sign outside the drop zone in front of the school: No Idling. Conrad Anker live moment you school Yes, I was inspired by Jack London and still love reading his books. Ernie Banks is another hero because I lived in Chicago for two years as a kid, and I loved that he was the Cubs' loyal underdog and one of the first African-Americans to make that breakthrough. Conrad Anker loved reading hero love It takes a lot of resources to climb Everest, and a lot of other people. But you should go do it. Conrad Anker climb go you people
