Atlantica - 01.06.2002, Page 43

accomplished. I’m proud of it. It gives me
satisfaction and nobody can take that
away from me.
But also, one of the big things for me
now, coming from Nepal, is learning
about the people. Meeting the people of
Nepal, especially the Sherpas, has made
me begin to contemplate their religion.
They are very poor people materially, but
they are so rich spiritually. In the Western
world, I believe a lot of people are unhap-
py even though they have money. You
really start to think of these issues when
you see very poor people that are so con-
tent and go out of their way to help you.
EW: Are you searching for that type of
spirituality through climbing?
HÓ: I haven’t really been searching for
this, but it’s something that has affected
me on this trip. You asked about why I
climb. Life on the mountain is very sim-
ple. You only have to worry about the
basic things like survival. Maybe climbing
helps me get back to the roots a little bit.
EW: After returning from the North Pole
you pretty much started your quest for
the Seven Summits right away. Having
been travelling for so long, will it be diffi-
cult to settle back down into your normal
life in Iceland?
HÓ: I’ve been on the road for a year. I’ve
been more away than I’ve been at home,
but it’s over now. Settling down and start-
ing to think about what you’re going to
do, there is always a little bit of emptiness
after a project like this – it leaves an
empty space you have to fill again. But
you have to take the next steps and fill
that space with something.
EW: How will you fill that space?
HÓ: I haven’t really figured that one out
yet. It’s a bit of a shock coming home and
realising that there is no mountain higher;
there are no more poles to go to. You
can’t do anything bigger. It’s kind of scary.
But that’s part of the achievement. You
know you’ve done it all. I will definitely
keep climbing and skiing, especially in
Iceland and neighbouring countries like
Greenland. I won’t go on any big expedi-
tions for at least two years. I need to find
new challenges. Maybe it will have some-
thing to do with an office desk this time.
[Laughs.] But I’m ready to be home. As
we say in Iceland, “Heima er best (Home
is best)”.
EW: Earlier you mentioned that being on
KHUMBU ICEFALL, THE MOST DANGEROUS
PART OF THE CLIMB.
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