By Denise Wong
originally posted Apr 25, 2015 by CBS 13 News, Sacramento, CA
17 people camped out at Mt. Everest were killed, and for one local man, it brought back a flood of memories and emotions. CBS 13’s Denise Wong spoke with him this tonight and joins us in the newsroom.
Jim Geiger lives in Natomas, but the 69 year old felt like he was right back out there at Basecamp when he heard about what happened in Nepal, reliving what almost took his life just over a year ago.
“I could not believe it happened again,” said Jim.
Jim Geiger knows first-hand the dangers of climbing Mt. Everest. Still, he wasn’t prepared for the news he got this morning. Texts from friends, and reports showing the destruction on the mountain.
“Yeah, of course. I have 12 people, at least 12 that I know of that are there now, guides and Sherpa and friends. And they’re all there climbing Everest, and how many of those survived? And luckily I found out early this morning that they all were spared.”
It was one year ago Geiger was spared as he tried to summit Mt. Everest.
“I picked up one in the icefall…”
These rocks and this photo are reminders that he was on the mountain during that April 18 avalanche that left 16 people dead.
“It’s kind-of like surviving an airplane crash, and Why didn’t I get killed? Last year, I was there in the icefall the day before the avalanche. And this year, Oh my God, I could have gone back and been there again and, it’s very emotional, and hard to deal with.”
Now Geiger’s heart goes out to all the mountaineers and Sherpas on Mt. Everest affected by this latest tragedy, and to the people of Nepal.
Geiger believes this latest natural disaster is not going to stop climbers from trying to climb Mt. Everest. Just like last year’s avalanche didn’t. He said it’s in a mountaineer’s blood not to give up.