Third Time – Unlucky…
April 14th, 2009 by Jake
For the third year running, I've just had to cancel my plans for an attempt on K2. Ever since Everest, I'd wanted to climb the second highest mountain in the world and see if I could get to the top of the 'mountaineer's mountain'. Unfortunately, unlike Everest, K2 is much much harder to organise expeditions to, and due to a number of reasons, this summer I'll have to settle with other plans and projects. It's a tremendous shame to have to sack in the exped again, especially when for once 'finances' weren't one of the problems!
Still, never mind - it's not the end of the world, and there is no point crying over spilt milk! Perhaps it is even for the best... last year I had been planning to attempt it, and at the last moment had to pull out. By the end of the season, the mountain had claimed 11 lives and once again retained it's title of the most dangerous mountain in the world. With a 27% death rate throughout it's history - I don't think that there is any point tempting fate.
Like so many things in life, when something that you have all your hopes and dreams pinned on falls through, it can leave you feeling dejected and can threaten to crush your motivation. However, it's important to remember what is really important in life, and I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason, and that it just wasn't my time to go to that mountain. So I'm going to pick myself up, dust myself off and refocus my attention on some other less adventurous but hopefully more career-motivated plans for the summer. Just in case you think that all sounds very boring, don't worry - I'm sure I'll think of some pretty epic but slightly smaller scale adventures to amuse myself with this summer!
So, with a renewed sense of direction, I re-chart my course for the next few months. K2 isn't going anywhere, and I have full faith that one day I will get to the mountain (getting to the top is another matter entirely!). Remember -
'Life is a journey, not a destination.'
At least my Girlfriend and my Mother can breath a collective sigh of relief for the moment!
Still, never mind - it's not the end of the world, and there is no point crying over spilt milk! Perhaps it is even for the best... last year I had been planning to attempt it, and at the last moment had to pull out. By the end of the season, the mountain had claimed 11 lives and once again retained it's title of the most dangerous mountain in the world. With a 27% death rate throughout it's history - I don't think that there is any point tempting fate.
Like so many things in life, when something that you have all your hopes and dreams pinned on falls through, it can leave you feeling dejected and can threaten to crush your motivation. However, it's important to remember what is really important in life, and I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason, and that it just wasn't my time to go to that mountain. So I'm going to pick myself up, dust myself off and refocus my attention on some other less adventurous but hopefully more career-motivated plans for the summer. Just in case you think that all sounds very boring, don't worry - I'm sure I'll think of some pretty epic but slightly smaller scale adventures to amuse myself with this summer!
So, with a renewed sense of direction, I re-chart my course for the next few months. K2 isn't going anywhere, and I have full faith that one day I will get to the mountain (getting to the top is another matter entirely!). Remember -
'Life is a journey, not a destination.'
At least my Girlfriend and my Mother can breath a collective sigh of relief for the moment!
Eremeeff
April 15th, 2009
Greatings,
http://www.jakemeyer.co.uk – da best. Keep it going!
Thanks
Eremeeff
Jinny
April 16th, 2009
http://www.jakemeyer.co.uk to GoogleReader!
Peri
April 22nd, 2009
Well said.