How Leaders Pick the Path to the Mount Everest Summit
On a Mount Everest expedition, a single decision can mean the difference between a summit photo and a rescue. Leadership near the Mount Everest summit is about managing ego, safety, and time.
The toughest decision is always to turn a group around when the Mount Everest summit is in sight. Experience and intuition are the only tools a leader has when the weather turns on an expedition.
At high altitude, tempers can flare. A great leader must manage the psychological health of the team to ensure they remain a cohesive unit during the Everest trekking and climbing push.
Every leader must weigh the desire for the Mount Everest summit against the objective hazards. Choosing the safest route through the Icefall is a daily tactical battle for any Everest expedition.
A successful Mount Everest expedition is built on trust. Choose a leader with the experience to make the right choices when the air is thin and the stakes are high.